MANCHESTER — Manchester United marked their Champions League return with a 4-0 victory over Sabah FK at Old Trafford, where Benjamin Sesko's first start since March delivered a second goal in two games and a different attacking threat for Michael Carrick's side.
The 23-year-old Slovenian, 6ft 5in and back after a shin issue, threatened with an impudent first-half back-flick before Bryan Mbeumo sent him beyond the visitors' defence to round goalkeeper Stas Pokatilov and steer into an empty net. "Of course, I'm happy with my goal," Sesko told TNT after the game. "I saw him rushing out, and it was a great opportunity to take the ball away from him and make the goal a little bit easier." Sesko has now scored 12 goals in his past 21 games for Manchester United, following his close-range header at Everton that was later cancelled out by Ainsley Maitland-Niles' stunning late strike.
It was Sesko's first start since the Liverpool game last March, when he accepted he could no longer play through the shin problem that had plagued him for weeks. He had been limited to second-half substitute appearances in the opening-day trip to Hull and subsequent outings against Ipswich and Everton, with Sabah's visit the first time he was fit to start. Carrick said Sesko's profile changes United's attack. "He definitely offers a different kind of threat," said head coach Michael Carrick. "That's the beauty of it, really. We know what Ben gives us. There's not many around that kind of give you what Ben does in terms of his physique, his physicality, playing on the last line and his speed to run in behind. He's a real threat. It's great to have him back at this level after working to get his fitness back. A couple of goals and good performances, and good minutes in him. I'm really pleased with the way he's gone."
Matheus Cunha, who opened the scoring against Sabah, and skipper Bruno Fernandes, who doubled the lead with a brilliant team move, were also on target in the four-goal win. Amad Diallo's current absence has removed Carrick's option to start Mbeumo at the head of the attack as he did in pre-season, while Cunha's tendency to drift and drop into space leaves a gap at the apex that Sesko fills by pushing defences back and running at opponents. Marcus Rashford was an unused substitute after returning to his boyhood club following last season's loan at Barcelona, and has yet to score or create a goal despite offering pace and direct running.
Carrick now faces a selection call before Sunday's Premier League derby with Manchester City at Old Trafford, with Sabah FK — the Azerbaijani champions — expected to be the weakest of United's eight league stage opponents. "It's not an easy decision, of course it's not," Carrick said of his team selection. "But it's definitely one I'd prefer: to have goals in the team and for the boys to be playing well. The understanding they all have is that sometimes it's going to be a start, sometimes it's going to be finishing the game. We need that within the group, from game to game over the season, to be able to call upon slightly different kind of things at different times. It's fantastic they're all in good form and started so well."