Antony Goal || Manchester united vs Real Betis 3-1 Extended Highlights & All Goal 2023

 Manchester United will have been desperate to respond to

their humiliating loss to Liverpool as quickly as possible, and

they did that in some style with a 4-1 Europa League last-16

first-leg win over Real Betis.

Much of the build-up to this fixture was dominated by frank

assessments of that embarrassing loss at Anfield and an

insistence from manager Erik ten Hag that it would not

define their season. It felt significant that Ten Hag picked

the same starting lineup from that Premier League loss to

the Reds, and if he had wanted a response, he got it.

United were ahead after only six minutes. Bruno Fernandes,

restored to a No.10 role here after playing wide against

Liverpool, had a cross cut out and the ball fell to Marcus

Rashford. A quick shift to his right foot and a ferocious

strike later, and the England star was celebrating his 26th

goal of the season.

Yet Betis, who held Real Madrid to a draw in their previous

La Liga match, struck back in the first half. Leicester City

loanee Ayoze Perez rifled a precise strike across David de

Gea's goal from the right and into the bottom corner, giving

Manuel Pellegrini's men an equaliser with their first shot on

target.

Perez saw a shot deflected onto the post just before the

break and there was a sense of nervousness around Old

Trafford given United's second-half collapse at Anfield. This

time, though, it was Ten Hag's side who blew their

opponents away after the restart.

Fernandes turned expertly away from veteran Joaquin and

played it wide to Antony. Fullback Abner allowed his

compatriot to cut inside onto his left foot, and he curled an

exquisite finish beyond Claudio Bravo.

It was 3-1 six minutes later, Fernandes getting the goal his

performance deserved, his header from Luke Shaw's corner

too powerful for Bravo to keep out.

The biggest cheer of the night came in the closing

moments, as Wout Weghorst swept home his first Old

Trafford goal after Bravo had saved from Scott McTominay.

The striker was close to tears as he was mobbed by

teammates and the United fans roared their approval as his

name was read out over the tannoy.

Betis simply had no response and United could easily have

scored more, but this is a result that puts them in a

commanding position ahead of the return fixture in Seville

next week.