Although the Reds controlled the game, the hosts seized the lead in the first half. Bruno Felipe launched the counterattack, which Karim Ansarifard completed to open the scoring. In the second half, Erik ten Hag called on his bench, and the introductions of Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial changed the game.
The offensive combination both scored in the second half, with Rashford tying the game before Martial put the Reds ahead. Despite a late goal by Panayiotou to keep Omonia in it, Rashford completed his brace minutes before the conclusion. For the bulk of the first 45 minutes, the Reds were dominant and produced many chances to go up.
Cristiano Ronaldo was at the centre of the action, and his low effort was superbly stopped by Fabiano in the Omonia goal. Our number seven also worked brilliantly with Bruno Fernandes and Antony to put up the captain, who had his attempt bounce off the crossbar. Antony came close to scoring with an attempt similar of his goal against Manchester City at the weekend, but the keeper parried the top corner-bound shot away.The hosts seized the lead just after the half-hour mark, entirely against the flow of play.
A counterattack led by Bruno’s storming run resulted in Ansarifard’s shot being blasted beyond David De Gea at his near post. Despite many opportunities to score, the Reds headed into halftime behind by one goal with more work to do in the second session. And it all started with a double change, with Rashford and Luke Shaw entering the game. Our number 10 had an almost instant effect, equalising eight minutes after the restart. Fernandes found Rashford with an incredible pass from inside his own half – the chance almost seemed to have slipped away from him, but he kept possession and curled the ball into the bottom corner past Fabiano’s grasp.
Martial completed United’s comeback ten minutes later, only seconds after his entrance. Martinez advanced from defence to find Rashford, whose first-time flick found Martial, who was quick to fire a shot that nestled into the bottom corner at Fabiano’s near-post. Ronaldo had a few chances to extend our advantage, the closest of which saw him stopped by the post after Diego Dalot provided his fellow countryman the opportunity. Rashford extended the Reds’ advantage with his second goal of the game with six minutes remaining. He exchanged passes with Ronaldo, whose low and powerful drive into the area was met at the back post by Rashford, who tapped home.
However, a frantic end seemed on the cards after the hosts soon grabbed one back, with Panayiotou hammering it past De Gea in the United goal.
Despite the late scare, Erik ten Hag’s team held on to earn another crucial three points.
MATCH DETAILS
Omonia Nicosia: Fabiano; Matthews, Miletic (Bezus 82), Yuste, Lang, Lecjaks; Diskerud (Panayiotou 72), Charalambous, Barker (Papoulis 61); Bruno (Loizou 72), Ansarifard (Kakoullis 61)
Subs not used: Panayi, Uzoho, Kitsos, Zachariou
Goals: Ansarifard 34, Panayiotou 85
Booked: Charalambous, Kakoullis
United: De Gea; Dalot, Lindelof, Martinez, Malacia (Shaw 46); Casemiro (McTominay 82), Eriksen; Antony (Fred 74), Fernandes (Martial 62), Sancho (Rashford 46); Ronaldo.
Subs not used: Heaton, Dubravka, Pellistri, Elanga, Garnacho, Iqbal.
Goals: Rashford 54, 84, Martial 63.
Booked: Martinez, Shaw
