Amad Diallo was the star of the show with a superb brace as Manchester United earned their first win in this season’s Europa League.
The Ivory Coast international, making his first start since October 3, netted twice in the second half, the first a header and the second a curling effort from the edge of the box, to sink a PAOK side that wasted several good chances to make it an uncomfortable evening for Ruud van Nistelrooy’s men.
What a strike this was from Amad Diallo 😮💨
It’s his second of the night for Manchester United 💥
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/g4uqrnAFo1
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 7, 2024
The win moved United up to 15th in the table and provided incoming boss Ruben Amorim with a platform on which to work when he takes over at Old Trafford on November 11.
No doubt the Portuguese was watching at home in Lisbon and he cannot fail to have been impressed by Amad’s contribution, with the former Sunderland loanee providing the hosts’ creative spark from the off.
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Amad stars throughout
Amad had a penalty shout turned away after 17 minutes after a challenge from Baba Rahman. The former Chelsea full-back slid in and won the ball with VAR confirming the on-field referee’s decision of corner.
Rahman then denied the 22-year-old at the far post just as he seemed set to turn in Alejandro Garnacho’s cross.
It was PAOK who had the best chance of the opening 45 minutes, though, with Andre Onana having to produce a brilliant save to tip Mady Camara’s volley over the bar.
Van Nistelrooy must have had some harsh words for his troops at the break as they came out firing and took the lead within five minutes of the restart. Bruno Fernandes floated over a cross from the left and Amad rose highest despite his diminutive frame and placed a superb header back across goal and into the left-hand corner.
Amad Diallo kisses the badge after giving Manchester United the lead in his first start in a month 🤩
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/tHteJfXsZz
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 7, 2024
PAOK ought to have hit back immediately but Andrija Zivkovic screwed his shot horribly wide when well placed inside the area.
After Amad was denied a second goal by a good save from Dominik Kotarski, PAOK came even closer when Tarik Tissoudali shot straight at Onana when it seemed easier to score.
Van Nistelrooy had seen enough and a triple substitution saw Christian Eriksen, Marcus Rashford and Lisandro Martinez introduced.
Amad seals the deal
The changes brought about some stability for the home side and it enabled Amad to make it 2-0 with a piece of individual brilliance. Having stolen the ball from Rahman on the right wing, he then cut inside and curled a left-foot shot past Kotarski via a very slight deflection.
With his work done, Amad was withdrawn with Mason Mount brought on to make his comeback from injury.
