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Greenwood instead started up front and produced a finish that Ronaldo would have been proud of, adjusting his body to meet a cross, through left-back Luke Shaw, who was right behind him and giving a scissor kick into the lower corner.
A heavily toured Manchester United side held the Young Boys to a 1-1 draw in their Champions League group on Wednesday, ending the Swiss side’s involvement in European competition this season.
A combination of senior players and talented youngsters had the chance to impress recently hired manager Ralf Rangnick, and Mason Greenwood seized the opportunity more than anyone else by flying United in the lead with an acrobatic finish in the ninth minute.
Fabian Rieder equalized in the 42nd, intercepting a weak pass from Donny van de Beek and curling into the top corner from the edge of the box, and the Young Boys dominated the second half as the visitors moved to the search for a winner to maintain their hopes of finishing. third from group F.
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Rangnick even changed keepers in the second half as part of his five substitutions, but United, already assured of advancing as group winners, held on.
Young Boys finished in last place, meaning the remaining group game between Atalanta and Villarreal – which was postponed until Thursday due to heavy snowfall in Bergamo – will be a back-to-back shootout to determine which team will finish second and third.
Taking charge of his second game as United manager, Rangnick fielded an entirely different formation from the one that started the 1-0 win over Crystal Palace on Sunday. Cristiano Ronaldo has been left out of the squad altogether, meaning he missed the opportunity to score in all six group matches of a Champions League campaign for the second time in his brilliant career.
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Greenwood instead started up front and produced a finish that Ronaldo would have been proud of, adjusting his body to meet a cross, through left-back Luke Shaw, who was right behind him and giving a scissor kick into the lower corner.
With midfielder Nemanja Matic playing out of position at center-back and 19-year-old forwards Amad Diallo and Anthony Elanga given the starts, United’s experimental squad were always likely to have moments of neglect and failure. ‘inconsistency.
And after Juan Mata missed a great opportunity to make it 2-0, United conceded just before half-time with a goal excellently finished by Rieder but completely avoidable.
“What was really a little boring was the way we gave the ball,†Rangnick said. “That was the case with the goal we conceded.
“Overall,†he added, “I wouldn’t say happy but it was okay. “
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