Manchester United begin Champions League campaign with emphatic win over Sabah

Manchester United marked their return to the UEFA Champions League with a commanding 4-0 victory over Sabah at Old Trafford on Thursday night.

The win ended a two-year absence from Europe’s elite competition in convincing fashion, with Matheus Cunha, Bruno Fernandes, Benjamin Sesko and Lisandro Martinez all scoring for Michael Carrick’s side.

Sabah were competing in the Champions League proper for the first time, only nine years after the club was founded. They stayed in the contest during the opening 25 minutes, but a mistake from Kaheem Parris allowed United to take control.

After Parris gave the ball away cheaply, Patrick Dorgu sent a cross into the penalty area. Cunha had been left unmarked and made no mistake, calmly finishing to put the hosts in front.

Sabah almost responded when Joy-Lance Mickels headed wide from close range, but United soon established a firm grip on the match.

Fernandes increased the advantage shortly before the interval, meeting Youri Tielemans’ cutback and sweeping the ball into the net.

United added a third only three minutes later. Sesko capitalised on space in the Sabah defence, went around goalkeeper Stas Pokatilov and tapped into an empty net.

The goal was a particularly encouraging moment for Sesko, who was making his first start of the season after missing all of United’s pre-season because of injury.

The 23-year-old described the result as the perfect way to open the club’s Champions League campaign.

“I think it was perfect for everyone, especially our fans. It means a lot to them, especially when they see so many goals,” Sesko told TNT Sports.

“I think it was great for us in general to give us more motivation for the upcoming games.”

Sesko was also pleased to have opened his personal scoring account for the season.

“I saw him rushing out, and it was a great opportunity to take the ball away from him to make the goal a little bit easier,” he said. “Of course, I’m happy with my goal.”

United eased off after the break, allowing the players to conserve energy with Sunday’s Manchester derby approaching.

They still found time for a fourth goal when Martinez reacted quickest after Sabah failed to clear the danger, tapping the loose ball into an open net.

The result gives Carrick’s team a perfect start to their Champions League campaign. Sabah, meanwhile, will look towards a more realistic opportunity to collect points when they face Slavia Prague next month.

United’s attention now turns to the derby, with Sesko saying the emphatic victory could provide an important lift.

“Definitely. I think the confidence boost is definitely big,” he said. “It’s important to recover good and focus on the derby.”