Henrikh Mkhitaryan on the scoresheet as Manchester United are through to the Round of 32 in Europa League

Henrikh Mkhitaryan proved his worth, again, this time on a chilly night in Ukraine.

It was a cold performance from Manchester United against a mediocre opponents in the first half as there was no change on the scoreboard.

Manchester United just needed a draw to seal their qualification to the next round, but a win was must for them given the recent run of form they have had in premier league.

Too much of draws had kept the Red Devils faithfuls waiting for a win for a long time. And this was the correct opportunity to boost the moral despite not so favorable conditions.

After a stale first half, Mkhitaryan stepped up to spark some life into the United attack as he single handedly dismantled the Zorya defense, sprinting all the way from halftime into the box and a finish into the bottom right corner, to get his first goal in United colours.

It was a reminiscence of his Shakhtar Donetsk days as he continued his excellent run of form against the Ukranian clubs.

Zorya too had their chances, but they weren't incisive enough to get past Sergio Romero.

United took the 2-0 lead and put the game to bed in the ending minutes with a goal from inevitable Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who beat the offside trap to reach Paul Pogba through ball and without any hesitance put the ball onto the back of the net in one on one situation.

Manchester United fans enjoyed the game from the stands as they traveled 1500 miles to watch their team.

©sportskafun.blogspot.com

Arsenal out of the EFL Cup, Real Madrid thrash Leonesa in CDR and other results

Massive aggregate win for Real Madrid

It was a comfortable outing for the Los Blancos as they scored 6 past Cultural Leonesa at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Zidane named a team which had many young players and they romped to victory.

Real Madrid won the tie 13-2 on aggregate. 

Enzo Zidane scored a goal just in18 minutes after coming on to the pitch. James Rodriguez too showed his class as he found the back of the new from a close range header.

Madrid took the lead in the first minute of the game through Mariano Diaz.

Real Madrid advanced to the next round of the Copa del Rey with ease. Zidane must be really happy and proud, both as a father and a manager, as Enzo made a lovely finish on his debut. 

In other CDR First leg matches Atletico Madrid thrashed Guijuelo 6-0 away. Yannick Carrasco scored a brace.
While Barcelona held for a 1-1 draw by Hercules.

Arsenal out of the EFL Cup

Arsene Wenger made a tough call by naming a team with 10 changes from the weekend clash against AFC Bournemouth and not enough strength on the bench, in the quarter final tie against Southampton at the Emirates.

Mohammed Elneny was the only one to retain his place while Rob Holding, Emiliano Martinez and Lucas Perez made a rare start. 

Two first half goals from Southampton handed Gunners the second defeat of the season in all competitions as they bid goodbye to the League Cup.

Jordy Clasie and Ryan Bertrand scored the goals for Saints in the 13th minute and 38th minute respectively.

Arsenal had their chances but they fell short on the night against the opponents they had struggled in recent times.

Southampton played really well and deserved to win.

Manchester United hit 4 past the Hammers

West Ham returned to Old Trafford in just 3 days time after drawing the Premier League fixture, which saw José Mourinho sent to the stands after kicking the water bottle and was serving a one match touchline ban in the quarter final tie.

Paul Pogba and Marouane Fellaini were also suspended for the game after accumulating 5 yellow cards.

Mkhitaryan made a start and had a great game. As he assisted the first goal for the Red Devils. Mkhitaryan also assisted Anthony Martial's second and United's third in the 2nd half.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic poked the ball home after being teed up by the Armenian in the 2nd minute of the game.
West Ham equalised when De Gea failed to hold on to the shot of Dimitri Payet from outside the box and the rebound fell into the path of former Red Devil Ashley Fletcher to finish home from a close range.

Manchester United looked like a team the mission in second half. As Anthony Martial scored two goals to take the game away from the Hammers. The Frenchman found his lost mojo against his favourite opponents.

Bastian Schweinsteiger came on to the pitch in the 86th minute in the place of Anthony Martial as the Red Devil fans burst into an uproar. He made his first appearance since March.

The German, in the night's short stint, had a shot on the goal from outside the box and then later played a part in United's fourth goal of the night as he found Herrera with a neat pass.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored the 4th goal to cap off a win with virtually the last play of the game.

Manchester United are the 4th team to advance to the semifinals after Liverpool, Hull City and Southampton.

EFL Cup semi-final fixtures are out

​The EFL Cup semi-finals will see Southampton pitted against Liverpool while Manchester United will face Hull City.

©sportskafun.blogspot.com

Wayne Rooney inspires Manchester United to a comprehensive victory

A Wayne Rooney special goal to couple it with an assist and some brilliant individual performances on a European night.

The Red devils were absolutely lethal in the night.

It was one of the important games to stay in hunt for a place in last 32 and Manchester United just played like that.

The hunger to score, the eagerness to get the ball every time it was with opponents, it was the kind of performance one expects to see from a United team.

Wayne Rooney was the star of the night, as he broke European goal scoring record for Manchester United.

As soon as he chipped the goalkeeper to open the scoring in the 35th minute, a move which he started himself and finished, he went past Ruud van Nisterlooy of scoring most goals in European competitions for Manchester United. He now moves to 39 goals.

Rooney assisted another for Juan Mata to score with a sublime reverse pass to make it 2-0 for United in 70th minute. Manchester United look ever hungry to score goals as  they added two more, an own goal from goalkeeper Brad Jones, trying to save a Zlatan Ibrahimovic shot and a stunning finish from substitute Jese Lingard in the dying minutes of the match.

Manchester United had 12 shots on target, most in Mourinho's era till now.
It's also the biggest win since the arrival of José Mourinho.

One player who proved himself on the night was Henrikh Mkhitaryan. He displayed an absolutely brilliant individual performance like he did all the time in Germany.
He got heavily involved in a number of chances and deserved a goal to his name but unfortunately didn't. He showed Mourinho what he had been missing. 

A player of his calibre deserves to start and even José Mourinho agreed in the post match conference.

Read what Mourinho had to say on Wayne Rooney's record breaking goal, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and more.

"It's an amazing achievement obviously," Mourinho said of Rooney at his post-match media conference.

"His performance was like the team performance. We showed direction even at 1-0 up, we want to score more goals and get into a position where we are ahead of them in a situation where there are two or three teams on the same points.

"It will be even better if he can help the club to win the one trophy they don't have in their history which is the Europa League.

"I know it's not the biggest competition, but let's push. Let's qualify, I know there are a lot of knockout games, but let's try."

Mourinho heaped praise on Mkhitaryan too.

Mourinho said: "I am very happy. We coped very well with the pressure on our shoulders - it was a good solid performance.

"Some players had chances, like Sergio Romero who made a double save at 0-0 and Mkhitaryan who put in a good individual performance.

"I think now Mkhitaryan just has to replicate this kind of performance in the Premier League.

"The Premier League is a level higher and he needs to replicate that in the Premier League with more physicality, with more pressure.

"But the quality we knew - that was why we brought him to the club. He has great quality."

And about Jese Lingard's superb late goal.

He added: "The goal was amazing. If it is another team scoring that goal with another manager on the touchline people would say that it's magic. But not Man United and not a Mourinho team."

It felt great to see Manchester United get back to winning ways in a must win game.

This performance if replicated in Premier league will surely make it even more exciting.

©sportskafun.blogspot.com

Mourinho explains omission of Mkhitaryan from weekend tie against Arsenal

Mourinho says he will start Henrikh Mkhitaryan against Feyenoord Rotterdam in Europa League tie.

After signing from Borussia Dortmund in summer, the Armenian hasn't been given any real opportunity the Premier league. He has made only one start in this season. And Jose Mourinho explains why he didn't brought him in Saturday's game vs Arsenal.

"I told him, 'This[Arsenal] was not the game for you, I don't think you need 10 or 20 minutes from the bench, I think you need a good game and you need to either start or if not to come(on) for the second half," Mourinho said.

"He needs less pressure and better conditions for him to express his qualities."

Mkhitaryan to play against Feyenoord

Mourinho insisted the 27-year old Armenian will play against Feyenoord Rotterdam.

"Yes(he is getting closer)," Mourinho said.
"I told him he is getting to be involved in the game against Feyenoord. He is trying. Obviously he is not happy but he is transforming his frustration a good way, which is (to) close the mouth and work hard and try to adapt."

Mkhitaryan last appeared on the field in Turkey. When Manchester lost to Fenerbahce. He was brought in as a substitute.

With this announcement, Red devils fans will be hoping to see the talented midfielder make a mark.

©sportskafun.blogspot.com