Roma were leading and at one point, Manchester United unleashed the beast that devoured Roma as if it was hungry for many years – hungry for goals, hungry for success. The Red Devils ended the night with an unassailable advantage that all but places them in the Europa League final next month.
It was the night where the Uruguayan legend Edinson Cavani reminded the world of his class and why he deserves a place among the best footballers in the last ten years – surely the tall and strong Uruguayan is a part of the country’s list of great footballers and even at this age he has not lost the hunger and creative prowess that made him the most feared forward over the last ten years.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer surfaced a strong lineup that featured Cavani up front, Pogba wide left, and David de Gea in goal, against Roma – who are placed seventh in the Italian Serie A.
Paulo Fonseca’s lineup included Chris Smalling and Henrikh Mkhitaryan – the stars of Manchester United’s Europa League triumph against Ajax in 2017. Roma’s plan was disrupted when Jordan Veretout pulled a muscle inside three minutes, with Gonzalo Villar replacing him.
Manchester United started brightly – Luke Shaw pushed one to Pogba, who rolled Smalling and discovered Cavani and he passed to Fernandes and, as Pau Lopez advanced, he dinked over the goalkeeper.
The tempo was with the home team, but the setback was around the corner!
When Rick Karsdorp skipped along the right he was chased by Pogba; his cross hit the arm of Pogba and the referee called for the spot-kick.
Lorenzo Pellegrini, the Roma captain, smashed in to De Gea’s right.
United responded with an attacking intent - Fernandes, Marcus Rashford, Cavani, and Aaron-Wan Bissaka put Roma on the back foot.
Pogba threatened with a curling 25-yard effort that had Lopez flying left before he became the second visitor to be replaced after he injured a shoulder. Antonio Mirante took the gloves in his place.
Then Pogba won a free-kick that was driven in by Fernandes from the left - Smalling headed it away.
A smart pass by Mkhitaryan found Pellegrini in the space and despite Harry Maguire and Shaw trying to sandwich Dzeko, they could not stop him sliding home.
Against the run of play, United were trailing and it reignited the unit.
After the break, Pogba passed to Cavani and his lay-off went to Fernandes and his return ball to Cavani was instant, who smashed the ball past the Roma keeper for the equalizer.
United switched to the fifth gear - Pogba and Shaw combined for an opportunity for Cavani whose strike was not accurate enough, but his intent was clear – Cavani wants to rule the roost.
After an hour, Cavani made no mistake when he bagged his second goal: the ball went from Shaw to Pogba to Fernandes to Wan-Bissaka, left to right and Bissaka offloaded- Mirante saved but Cavani was there to beat him.
The floodgates were open and Manchester United added three more.
Cavani scored twice and provided another two assists, while Pogba controlled the show and Fernandes aided the two.
The combination of Pogba, Cavani, and Fernandes have been like a fireball combined with all the elements of the earth to crush the defence when they are in a mood.
Roma experienced the heat of the United fireball, but they are not unknown to comebacks and perhaps, the comeback of Partizan Belgrade against Queens Park Rangers at Highbury in 1984.
Note: This article has been posted at Cricketsoccer as CSdesk on 30/04/2021 Edinson Cavani, Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes combine for a world class display
Thank You
Faisal Caesar
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