Chapter 661: Undefeated in the Champions League
Mahrez's goal gave Manchester United a 2-0 lead, which remained the score at halftime.
The Second Half
At the start of the second half, Manchester United came out attacking fiercely. In the 49th minute, they won a corner. Bruno Fernandes delivered the ball into the box, and Chris Smalling's header was saved by Shakhtar Donetsk goalkeeper Pyatov. However, in the ensuing chaos, Mahrez slid in to score again, completing his brace and making it 3-0.
With a comfortable three-goal lead, United shifted to controlling the game to conserve energy. Despite this tactical adjustment, the goals kept coming.
Greenwood Strikes
Ten minutes later, Bruno's shot was parried by Pyatov, and Shakhtar defender Kryvtsov attempted to clear. But Mason Greenwood, bulldozing through like a tank, intercepted and unleashed a shot into the net.
4-0!
"GOOOOOOOOOOOOOALLLLLL!"
"Greenwood! That's Mason Greenwood's first Champions League goal!" exclaimed Martin Tyler.
"The young prodigy who burst onto the scene in Manchester United's clash against Everton, helping break Arsenal's 49-match unbeaten record, now scores in his Champions League debut!"
"4-0! United have this game firmly in their grasp!"
Mourinho's Milestone
The cameras focused on Jose Mourinho, standing on the sidelines, smiling and applauding.
"This is Mourinho's 150th match as a Champions League manager," noted commentator He Wei. "And it's shaping up to be a perfect performance! With this victory, Manchester United will secure first place in their group with two games to spare. They can now shift focus to the Premier League, where they aim to extend their unbeaten run and possibly challenge AC Milan's legendary 58-match unbeaten streak in Europe's top five leagues!"
Since his Champions League debut with Porto in 2002, Mourinho had managed 150 matches in the competition, ranking fourth in all-time appearances. Ahead of him were Sir Alex Ferguson (190 matches), Arsène Wenger (178), and Carlo Ancelotti (158).
More Goals
Mourinho's 150th Champions League match was indeed victorious, but 4-0 wasn't the final score.
84th Minute: United launched a swift counterattack. Bruno passed to Lingard on the left, who crossed to the right. Mahrez controlled the ball with his chest and unleashed a stunning volley to complete his hat-trick. 5-0!92nd Minute: Mahrez intercepted a pass in midfield and sent a through ball to Greenwood. The young striker broke free, chipped over the advancing Pyatov, and sealed the score at 6-0!
On November 7, 2018, at Old Trafford, Manchester United annihilated Shakhtar Donetsk 6-0 in Mourinho's milestone match. Meanwhile, Lyon and Hoffenheim played to a 2-2 draw.
With four wins out of four, United not only advanced to the knockout stages but also secured the top spot in their group with two games to spare.
Post-Match Drama
In the post-match press conference, Shakhtar Donetsk manager Paulo Fonseca harshly criticized the referee. Fonseca argued that the first-minute penalty and red card ruined the game's fairness.
Mourinho was quick to rebut, not to defend the referee but to protect his players' efforts.
"I applaud the referee for his clear-sightedness," Mourinho said. "Rakitskiy's foul on Greenwood was undeniable, and the decision was entirely justified."
The heated exchange escalated, with Mourinho accusing Fonseca of being a sore loser, while Fonseca countered by claiming United had been favored by the referee.
Ukrainian media sided with Shakhtar, lamenting that the early red card and penalty had skewed the game's balance. Mourinho, however, dismissed this with a smirk.
Two days later, UEFA fined Fonseca €15,000 and banned him for two matches for his comments against the referee.
Media Frenzy
Manchester United's 6-0 victory marked their 17th consecutive Champions League match without a loss, sparking celebrations among English and especially Manchester-based media.
The Guardian, known for its pro-United stance, declared:
"Nine years later, the Red Tide sweeps across Europe once more!"
Mourinho had plenty to smile about. Not only did he celebrate a historic milestone in the Champions League, but he also saw stellar performances across the board.
Riyad Mahrez delivered a hat-trick.Bruno Fernandes continued his exceptional form.Mason Greenwood, in his Champions League debut, netted twice and showed tremendous potential.
Even the squad's fringe players rose to the occasion, ensuring a dominant performance despite a heavily rotated lineup.
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