United took just one point from their last three group games in last year’s Champions League and were eliminated. The first three matches in the Europa League’s league play this autumn ended in a draw, but on Thursday the victory finally came.
Amad scored with his head in the 50th minute. On a cross from Bruno Fernandes, he started perfectly behind the back of former Chelsea player Baba Rahman and reached the ball at the far post. It looked like he tried to nod to Rasmus Højlund, but the ball went into the goal before the Dane reached it.
United were clearly the best at Old Trafford, but lived very dangerously when Tarik Tissoudali was left all alone in front of goal in the 64th minute. Taison found him with a great pass, but the PAOK striker was indecisive and shot too poorly, allowing André Onana to save.
In the 77th minute, Amad punctured the tension when he won the ball from Rahman high up the pitch, cut inside and fired home from 17 metres.
Lucky
Spurred on by a very lively following, PAOK jumped out early. In the 6th minute, Mady Camara sent a shot that hit the inside of Casemiro’s leg and put goalkeeper André Onana completely out of action, but luckily for United the ball bounced off the post.
United called for a penalty in the 17th minute in vain when Amad went head-to-head in a duel with Rahman. The PAOK defender did not hit the ball and there was contact with Amad, but VAR did not verify the Romanian referee’s assessment.
Two minutes later, Højlund won in the air on a cross from Amad, but the header from close range went straight to PAOK goalkeeper Dominik Kotarski.
After half an hour, Alejandro Garnacho was played forward by Fernandes and hit through the goal yard. Amad waited at the far post, but Rahman lunged forward and gave a corner.
Uncertain about the future
Ruud van Nistelrooy managed United for the penultimate time before Ruben Amorim takes over the reins. The Dutchman was brought to the club this summer as an assistant for the now fired Erik ten Hag. He says that he would like to continue at the club, but does not know if that will be the case.
– I haven’t had contact with Ruben yet, and I don’t know when that will happen, I’m concentrating on working with the team and leading the games until he arrives, he said according to Sky Sports.