Bournemouth vs. Manchester United: Score and Reaction from 2016 EPL Match

Jose Mourinho's Premier League debut for Manchester United couldn't have gone much better.

Behind goals from Juan Mata, Wayne Rooney and summer signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic, United opened their 2016-17 campaign with a 3-1 win over Bournemouth on Sunday. Adam Smith scored the lone goal for Bournemouth.

The win had Mourinho's stamp all over it, per football pundit and former player Gary Lineker:

WhoScored.com provided the game's critical statistics:

Manchester United were the stronger side in the first half. But it was a Bournemouth blunder that led to the game's first goal.

Simon Francis played a poor back pass to goalkeeper Artur Boruc in the 40th minute, allowing Mata to get a shot on goal. A sliding Boruc made the save, but the ball bounced off the leg of Francis and found its way back to Mata, who simply slid home into the wide-open net.

Mata's goal came after Mourinho didn't exactly offer the Spaniard a vote of confidence in the Community Shield, bringing on the midfielder in the second half as a substitute against Leicester City only to take him off again in stoppage time.

Despite their checkered history, however, Mata provided Mourinho with the first goal of his United tenure.

The game's second goal, fittingly enough, came off a United mishit—albeit one that benefited the away side greatly.

Anthony Martial attempted to first-time a volley from Antonio Valencia's long, diagonal cross in the 59th minute. He didn't get his effort on target, putting his shot into the ground, but the ball careened off the grass and found the head of Rooney, who nodded back across the face of goal to double United's lead.

Rooney now finds himself three goals behind Sir Bobby Charlton as Manchester United's all-time leading goalscorer, per ESPN Stats & Info.

But his goal couldn't quite cover up a lackluster performance otherwise, per football writer Miguel Delaney:

If United's first two goals were a bit fortuitous, there was no mistake on their third.

Ibrahimovic, just moments after having a brilliant free kick saved by a diving Boruc, found himself with acres of space outside the box in the 64th minute. That was all the incentive the Swedish striker needed, and he blasted a low shot that found its way just inside the post beyond a helpless Boruc.

It was unwise to give Ibrahimovic so much space, as Henry Winter of the Times noted:

Bournemouth did not go gently, however.

Lewis Grabban played a lovely ball into Smith in the 69th minute, finding him in space in the box. Smith promptly cut back inside on his weaker foot and smashed the ball beyond David De Gea, giving the home side a touch of hope.

That was all Bournemouth mustered, though.

It was a bright start to the campaign for United, even if their first two goals weren't the cleanest of strikes. The club's immense attacking talent was on full display, not to mention the facts that new signing Henrikh Mkhitaryan was a second-half substitute, Marcus Rashford and Memphis Depay were available off the bench, and Jesse Lingard is still recovering from a foot injury.

Oh, and superstar Paul Pogba has yet to make his debut. Suffice it to say, finding goals shouldn't be an issue for United this season.

The 3-1 scoreline was perhaps a bit harsh for Bournemouth, though the Red Devils were clearly the superior side. The Cherries will again be fighting to avoid relegation this season, so losses to clubs of United's stature and talent are expected.

Post-Match Reaction

Mourinho was pleased with his side, as he told MUTV:

He was also happy with his new striker.

"This guy [Zlatan] is more than a player," Mourinho said, per Simon Stone of BBC Sport. "For the next two seasons, he can be phenomenal for [our] team and the Premier League."

Ibrahimovic talked about his mindset, as he told United's website:

"

I try to do my job and help my team-mates. The first objective is to win. The second, if I can score in a game like that, is also good, but whoever scores helps the team.

If it's me, Wayne or someone else, it's the same importance like if I would score. For me, the victory is the most important. Whoever scores is a bonus.

"

He also spoke about adjusting to life in the Premier League:

"

It's not easy. Everything is new for me—my team-mates, the club, the environment, new stadiums—but slowly I get settled in, play my game and help the team win. We want to continue like that.

The team did good. It was a difficult game. In the first half we weren't at 100 per cent, but in the second half it became easier, there was more space and we could play our game more. It was a good game, a good start and important to start with a win.

"

The real adjustment may be the rest of the Premier League learning how to handle the electrifying Ibrahimovic.

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe tried to take positives from the match, per the club's website:

"

I thought we gave as good as we got in the early stages of the game.

I think we were really pleased until we conceded the first goal; it's tough to give any team a goal head start, let alone Manchester United.

It was an unlucky moment, as was the second goal, really. We had defended well and minimised their threat around the box, but we didn't really build any pressure around their goal, and that's something for us to look at.

We were trying to be strong enough to stay in the game, but we have to take this game in insolation. I'm not all doom and gloom; it's important we don't go negative and believe we'll come back from this.

"

They'll have the chance to come back from the result next Sunday at West Ham. Manchester United will face Southampton on Friday at Old Trafford.

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