Manchester United vs. Brugge: Winners and Losers from Champions League Play-off
Memphis Depay dazzled Old Trafford as Manchester United defeated Club Brugge 3-1 in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League play-off on Tuesday night.
Depay, signed in the summer from PSV Eindhoven, opened his United scoring account with two memorable goals. In the 13th minute, with his side trailing 1-0, the 21-year-old juggled and danced his way past several defenders before slotting in the equalizer. Thirty minutes later, he netted a beautiful, curling effort that turned out to be the winner.
Substitute Marouane Fellaini scored in second-half stoppage time to give United a cushion ahead of next week's second leg. Brugge had taken the lead in the eighth minute via a Michael Carrick own goal.
Here, Bleacher Report chooses winners and losers from Tuesday's match.
Winner: Memphis Depay
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Memphis Depay had not scored in either of his first two competitive appearances with Manchester United. But after the Dutchman lit up Old Trafford with a pair of sumptuous goals Tuesday night, it almost seems like Depay was biding his time for the appropriate stage on which to display his talents.
The first goal showcased the young winger's impressive ball skills. Accepting a lofted pass from Michael Carrick, Depay bamboozled a host of defenders with a series of magical touches. After juggling the ball past one opponent, he slalomed through traffic along the edge of the box while moving from left to right. Finally, Depay slotted an unstoppable shot past Sebastien Bruzzese and into the bottom corner.
That strike drew United level after the visitors had taken a surprising lead through a Carrick own goal. Depay's second, a picturesque effort from the edge of the area, put the hosts ahead for good. Holding the ball on the left again, the winger cut inside past his marker and curled another unstoppable drive past the goalkeeper to make it 2-1.
Depay missed a sitter in the second half, but it hardly mattered. With his two lovely golazos Tuesday night, a new star was born at Old Trafford.
"Two goals as good as Old Trafford has seen for a while," tweeted B/R UK's Chris Fleming. "And he just looks such a natural fit on that left side."
This all bodes very well for United as the new season gears up. Depay did indeed look a natural fit on the left side, with Sunday Times journalist Duncan Castles noting that the 21-year-old presents more of a threat from the flank.
And as B/R's Sam Pilger noted, United appear to have found a star worthy of the famed No. 7. It's still early days, of course, but it's impossible to deny Depay's immense talent. If he continues to dazzle Old Trafford the way he did against Brugge, great things await.
Loser: Brandon Mechele
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For all the brilliance Memphis Depay produced, Brugge still managed to reach the latter stages of the game in a relatively favorable position. After scoring the opener, the Belgians knew they would take a valuable away goal back home for the second leg. And although Depay thoroughly impressed with his two goals, Manchester United held only a slender one-goal lead heading into the final 10 minutes.
It was shaping up to be a decent result for the visitors, who would have fancied their chances of overturning the deficit next week. But then Brandon Mechele received a red card in the 80th minute for his second bookable offense, a silly foul on substitute Javier Hernandez. The defender had received his first booking only seven minutes before and really should have known better than to commit to such a needless foul so late in the game.
The dismissal means Mechele will miss the second leg. In addition, Brugge had to play the final 10 minutes with a numerical disadvantage. The visitors nearly held out until full-time, but Marouane Fellaini nodded in a late header deep in stoppage time to give United a 3-1 victory.
At 2-1, the result almost would have felt like a disappointment for United. But at 3-1, Brugge now have a much tougher task in the second leg.
"It makes a difference because 2-1 is a very difficult result," Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal told BT Sport (h/t BBC Sport). "We deserved much more because we created a lot of chances. It is what I am always saying: You have to be effective. We have a lot of chances and only three goals."
Winner: Chris Smalling
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Chris Smalling turned in an excellent shift for Manchester United at centre-back, leading the Red Devils with a strong all-around display.
The 25-year-old bullied Abdoulay Diaby throughout the Brugge man's time on the pitch. When the bigger, stronger Mamadou Oulare replaced Diaby in the second half, Smalling refused to give the latter an inch. The only misstep for Smalling came in the 81st minute, when he drew a booking for a foul that gave Brugge a good set-piece opportunity.
Overall, the performance only served as encouragement for Smalling, who has improved greatly over the past year.
"In this form, he's the complete defender," B/R contributor Graham Ruthven tweeted.
Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand heaped praise on Smalling (h/t Squawka), saying, "I love it when he is in that mode...beast mode."
Loser: Wayne Rooney
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Wayne Rooney set up Memphis Depay for a glorious chance in the second half with a superb back flick. Depay didn't convert the opportunity, but that's not important for our purposes here. Apart from that magical flick, Rooney mostly disappointed for United on Tuesday night.
Playing as the lone central forward, Rooney often struggled to find the right pass and frequently fluffed chances. One such missed opportunity in the 58th minute seemed illustrative: After receiving a pass with his back to goal, just outside the box, Rooney turned and fired a shot well off target.
It wasn't just that Rooney missed; he missed poorly. A few years ago, most would have expected Rooney to at least hit the target in that situation, if not score.
Rooney has now gone nine games without a goal for United. That second-half flick suggested he's not done just yet, but it's impossible to ignore his current scoring drought.
Winners: Marouane Fellaini and Javier Hernandez
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Marouane Fellaini and Javier Hernandez entered the match as second-half substitutes for Manchester United. Both will be happy with their performances, especially Fellaini, who netted a late goal to give his side a cushion ahead of the second leg.
It was the first United appearance for Hernandez since last August, and the Mexican international must be happy with the impact he made in his brief cameo. After spending most of last season on loan with Real Madrid, Chicharito will be aiming to force his way back into manager Louis van Gaal's plans this term.
Fellaini, who is serving a Premier League suspension, has not appeared yet this season for Manchester United. With his size, physicality and aerial ability, the big Belgian gives the Red Devils a different option from any other attacker in the squad.
Only time will reveal how much of an impact either player makes this season, but Tuesday should serve as a solid foundation for both.
Loser: Michael Carrick
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Michael Carrick had a mixed night for Manchester United, scoring a goal at the wrong end before assisting Memphis Depay's stunning first strike. He made way for Bastian Schweinsteiger at halftime.
It might be harsh to place Carrick in the "losers" column for just an own goal, but he was also guilty of a few stray passes early in the match. One of those, an errant back pass to goalkeeper Sergio Romero, nearly resulted in another own goal.
For a player of Carrick's abilities, it was an "uncharacteristically sloppy start," as the Times' Oliver Kay put it. Competition for places in United's midfield is intense with both Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlin pushing for playing time, and Carrick will have to perform his best to hold on to a starting role.
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