Memphis Depay scored his first goals for Manchester United as they came from behind to beat Club Brugge 3-1 in their Champions League play-off first leg.
The Dutchman cancelled out Michael Carrick’s early own goal before firing in a superb second to give the hosts the lead shortly before half-time at Old Trafford.
The summer signing had chances to seal his hat-trick but United struggled to stretch their advantage before Brandon Mechele was dismissed for a second yellow late on (80) and Marouane Fellaini headed in a third right on the final whistle.
Louis van Gaal’s men dominated proceedings with 19 shots to Brugge’s one, and Fellaini’s late strike will make things more comfortable for the second leg in Belgium on August 26.
After a 16-month absence from the Champions League, spirits were high ahead of the match as United entered the tie as big favourites to progress to the group stage.
But Brugge started brightly and found themselves in front inside eight minutes when a Victor Vazquez free kick was diverted into the net by Carrick as he stretched for the ball.
The lead only lasted five minutes, though, as Carrick found Memphis on the left with an excellent first-time ball, and the Dutchman produced some wonderful control to flick it over a defender before running across the box and firing low into the corner to get his first goal for the club.
The 21-year-old looked in lethal form, but spurned a glorious opportunity to put Van Gaal’s men in front as he was played in behind, for some reason deciding to try and cross rather than take advantage of a one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
Memphis would soon make amends for that error, though, as he put the hosts ahead two minutes before the break. He again collected the ball on the left, and cut inside on to his right foot before curling a delightful shot into the top corner.
It was no more than United deserved as they dominated possession and Brugge’s bright start faded away.
Memphis tried to replicate his second goal immediately after the break with a carbon copy move, but he could only fire wide of the target, before seeing a low 25-yard effort saved just a few minutes later.
The hosts nearly made it 3-1 shortly after the hour mark as Luke Shaw started a superb move, playing a one-two with Juan Mata down the right then firing in a low cross. Wayne Rooney produced a delightful flick with the back of his heel for Memphis, but he could only blaze his effort over.
It was starting to look like Van Gaal’s men would endure a frustrating second half, knowing that a single-goal lead would be difficult to defend in Belgium next week.
The hosts knew they had to press their advantage with 10 minutes to go when Mechele, already on a yellow card, brought down substitute Javier Hernandez and was given his marching orders by the referee.
United were camped in the Brugge half for the remainder of the match, but it took until the last play of the game – in the fourth minute of stoppage time – for the hosts to increase their advantage.
Memphis turned provider, firing an inswinging cross towards the far post, and substitute Fellaini rose highest to head it down into the net and leave Van Gaal’s side with a two-goal cushion for the second leg next week. – Skysports.
