Full-time: Man Utd 1-0 Zorya Luhanks
A really spirited performance by the minnows of Group A saw them come close to registering a huge upset.
They frustrated Manchester United for large parts of the game and nearly scored themselves on a couple of occasions.
United didn’t quite look prepared to break down a side that was very disciplined and organised.
And other than the goal - which came in quite fortuitous circumstances as Ibrahimovic converted Rooney’s scuffed shot - there wasnt’ a great deal to get excited about.
Not a classic performance, then, but enough to get United’s Europa League campaign up-and-running.
They have three points now, which puts them third in the group behind Fenerbahce on four points and Feyenoord also on three.
Next up in this competition: back-to-back games against Robin van Persie’s Fenerbahce.
And Jose Mourinho will want much better from his side in their next game - Sunday’s Premier League fixture against Stoke City.
The manager made his frustrations clear on the touchline.
Rooney fluffs a great chance for United!
A hugely promising three-on-two comes to nothing for United as the ball is fed to Rooney on the right and his cross-field ball for Rashford is COMPLETELY over-hit.
The youngster has to get his motor on to keep the ball in play.
A moment later and Fellaini nearly proves you all wrong with an acrobatic volley from a corner, but it’s just over the bar!
Here’s Rooney in happier times, about ten minutes ago.
Zorya running out of steam as Zlatan goes close to a second!
Zorya have given their all but you can see how that goal deflated them.
They’re still battling, but it’s the hosts who are in the ascendancy now.
Zlatan comes close to doubling United’s lead, but Martial’s cutback was just a bit too late and the ball was adjudged to have gone out of play.
Still, he won’t care. He looks like the cat that got the cream.
Zlatan gets back among the goals!
It was a real poacher’s finish by the big Swede, who latched onto a loose ball from Rooney at the back post for the simplest of headers.
But after going four games before today without a goal, he won’t care where it came from.
You can see Zlatan’s relief at being back among the goals and he may have just won this for United to boot!
Double change for Man Utd
Jose Mourinho brings on Ashley Young and Anthony Martial in place of Juan Mata and Timothy Fosu-Mensah.
The Spaniard will be disappointed with himself.
After a bright start, he struggled to impose his will on the game despite seeing plenty of the ball and being given a roaming brief.
Rooney's still got it
Manchester United suddenly look like a different side as they zip the ball around confidently.
And you can’t deny that Rooney’s introduction made the difference, indirectly at least.
To those who say he’s past it... 1 touch, 1 assist! BAM!
United score with their first shot on target
I guess you can’t really complain if your team scores 100% of their shots on target!
GOAL! MAN UTD 1-0 Zorya (Ibrahimovic)
There’s Rooney with the assist, sort of!
Mata plays in Pogba on the right. His cut back finds the United No.10 unmarked and in the middle of the box.
The shot is completely scuffed but his blushes are saved as Zlatan nips in to head the bouncing ball home from close range!
Heeeeeere's Rooney!!
The skipper gets a runout as Lingard makes way.
He’s got 23 minutes and change to save his side from what would be an embarrassing goalless draw, all things considered.
Ohhh, Paulinho nearly opens the scoring!
The Brazilian has been a livewire since he came on and he had Manchester United hearts in mouths there.
It was a sharp turn by the Zoya man, but his curled effort was kept out by Romero at full stretch!
Bailly shown a yellow card
The Ivorian goes into the referee’s book for a foul on Zorya substitute Paulinho.
That’s the first booking of the game by my count.
More Fellaini bashing, this time with wit
Fellaini has been a bit pants, hasn't he?
So it’s not surprising to see that only 6.7% of you thought he should be starting tonight’s game.
Clearly you all could manage United more successfully than the Special One.
Morgan Schneiderlin will be upset that he only garnered a similar amount of votes with the VAAAST majority, 86.7%, going to Michael Carrick.
Hasn’t Jose learned yet?
Whenever there’s a problem at United, the solution is to PLAY CARRICK!
There he is, watching on, with Rooney and Young.
Who should have started in the middle for United? (%)
United nearly punished for lax passing
The hosts are struggling to string three passes together this half.
They’ve given the ball away on several occasions.
And Zorya just nearly punished them for their laxness, as Ljubenovic came within inches of connecting with a great cross across the penalty area.
A silver lining for Manchester United?
To those getting frustrated by United’s inability to break down Zorya...
At least the Red Devils aren’t losing, huh?
In fact, they’re on a bit of a hot streak of not losing European home games now.
If that isn’t worthy of a prize, I don’t know what is?
We're back underway
No changes in personnel for either side.
#PrayForAGoal
A few times in that first half Mourinho appeared unhappy - with the officials, with his assistant, with his own players?
Something appeared to get his goat late on in the first 45.
The story of the first half, as told by Juan Mata's facial expressions
The most damning statistic of that first half is that Manchester United didn’t muster a single shot on target.
In fact, there hasn’t been a shot on target for either side.
Someone needs to tell both sets of players that you can’t score if you don’t at least get your shot on target.
Unless you get some sort of lucky deflection but that’s not something to be relied upon...
Half-time: Man Utd 0-0 Zorya
Man Utd can’t make their pressure tell as the half comes to an end.
Somewhat surprisingly we’re still without a goal.
I’ve been running this live blog since 6pm, and I’ve still not seen a goal!!
Zorya defended well, but until the final ten minutes, the hosts didn’t really do enough to break down Zorya, despite having nearly all of the ball.
Man Utd vs Zorya: Possession, HT
Red Devils raising the temperature now!
A couple of close moments for the hosts and it’s all defensive hands to deck now for Zorya.!
Brazilian defender Rafael Forster has twice been in the right place to save his side, first against Lingard, then Mata, who did well to get on the end of Pogba’s devilish cross.
From a subsequent corner, Fellaini wins the header but can’t keep it down!
Plenty of chances in quick succession for the hosts, who have raised the tempo in the past five minutes.
Get the feeling a goal’s coming...
Zorya holding their own so far
In the opening 35 minutes or so, the visitors have given as good as they’ve gotten.
The occasion doesn’t seem to have got to them at all.
But Jose Mourinho won’t be overly worried just yet...
Man Utd vs Zorya: Shots, 35 mins
CAPTION COMPETITION!
I’ll leave it to you...
Old Trafford getting restless as Red Devils struggle to make inroads
Zlatan goes down theatrically after a sliding challenge from Chaykovsky.
There wasn’t any contact, but he’s won his side a free-kick nonetheless.
It’s 30 yards out but he fancies it...
Nope, straight into the wall and groans sound around the stadium.
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