Manchester United cruised into the last 16 of the competition, securing a 2-0 victory over Steaua Bucharest at the National Arena on Thursday night. The win marked a significant achievement for United under manager Ruben Amorim, as it was their third consecutive victory, something they had not managed all season. The match, which was relatively comfortable for United, highlighted key moments of individual brilliance from some of their younger talents.
Diogo Dalot opened the scoring with a well-taken goal after an assist from Kobbie Mainoo, who was later involved in the second goal. On the 68th minute, Mainoo combined with Alejandro Garnacho, with the latter delivering a precise ball that Mainoo finished coolly to seal the victory. This moment was especially important for both Mainoo and Garnacho, two young players who have been seeking more playing time and opportunities to prove their worth in United’s first team.
Amorim’s side took the game seriously, fielding a team that included several fringe players such as Toby Collyer, Altay Bayindir, and Tyrell Malacia. Malacia was involved in an early booking for a reckless challenge on Florin Tanase, and Steaua came close to taking advantage of United’s defensive lapses. A well-delivered free-kick from Steaua’s Risto Radunovic almost punished Malacia’s misstep, but the ball sailed narrowly wide. Despite these minor defensive issues, United’s attacking potency remained intact, with Christian Eriksen’s dangerous free-kick forcing Steaua goalkeeper Stefan Tarnovanu into a sharp save.
Steaua, with their attacking threat, posed a few problems for United, especially during the first half. Although they lacked the clinical edge, they showed flashes of quality, such as a dangerous header from Mihai Popescu that missed the target. In contrast, United struggled with converting opportunities. Rasmus Højlund, United’s £72 million signing, was involved in several attacking moves but failed to find the net, continuing his frustrating run of form, having gone 23 games without a goal.
Despite these struggles in front of goal, United dominated possession and the overall flow of the game. They had 69% of the ball in the first half and created several opportunities, though they were unable to capitalize on them. Amorim’s tactical adjustments at halftime saw Amad Diallo and Garnacho replace Collyer and Malacia, injecting more pace and creativity into the attack. Garnacho’s speed almost led to an immediate reward when he latched onto a poor back pass but was unlucky to see his shot clip the left post.
Højlund’s frustrations continued, with another opportunity inside the Steaua box going begging as his shot was easily collected by Tarnovanu. At the same time, United’s defense, led by Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martínez, remained solid enough to keep Steaua at bay. Eriksen was more often found aiming at de Ligt in aerial duels rather than his forward players, reflecting United’s inability to generate consistent offensive rhythm.
The breakthrough finally came when Mainoo’s cross from the right was met by Dalot, who slid in at the far post to put United 1-0 up. The goal was a relief for the team, and the traveling United supporters in the stands celebrated the moment as Dalot took his time to savor the finish. Afterward, Mainoo doubled the lead, combining with Garnacho to put the game beyond Steaua’s reach.
Although United struggled to kill off the game in the final stages, they managed to see out the victory with some professional play. Bayindir, who had replaced André Onana in goal, made a crucial late save to deny Alexandru Baluta’s powerful shot, ensuring the clean sheet. United’s composure in the closing stages was a contrast to some of their previous performances this season, where they had often been unable to manage games effectively when in control.
The result means United will avoid a playoff and can now focus on preparing for the last 16. The upcoming draw will determine whether they face the likes of Midtjylland, Alkmaar, Real Sociedad, or Galatasaray. Amorim’s side, although not perfect, is beginning to show signs of the kind of consistency needed to mount a serious challenge for the trophy and secure Champions League qualification through the competition. The road to that goal continues, with the next challenge coming in the form of Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Sunday.
