Anthony Martial's penalty secured victory for Manchester United against Partizan Belgrade, but the Red Devils' display was not a great one.
2019/2020 UEFA Europa League
0-1
Match Events
Manchester United finally enjoyed away-day success as Anthony Martial's 43rd-minute penalty earned an unconvincing 1-0 win over Partizan Belgrade, lifting Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men to the top of Group L in the Europa League.
Prior to Thursday's contest in Serbia, United had gone 11 matches without an away win in all competitions - their worst such run in 40 years - since beating Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League back in March.
Yet the Red Devils' travelling support were finally given reason to celebrate again as a spot-kick from Martial - making his first start since August 24 following injury - was complemented by the club's third clean sheet in as many Europa League matches this term.
United's overall performance was far from impressive and a lack of creativity was again apparent as a side showing seven changes from Sunday's encouraging 1-1 draw with Liverpool failed to muster a single shot on target besides Martial's penalty.
However, the result will at least please Solskjaer as the 2016-17 Europa League winners are firmly on course to reach the knockout stages having claimed seven points from three games.
Group Standings
15' CLOSE! McTominay's header wide out
United with a free-kick of their own now - Mata and Garner standing over it. It's Mata to take towards McTominay at the far post, but he heads it into the ground and wide!
37' CLOSE! Lingard hits the post
United come close to taking the lead as Wan-Bissaka feeds Lingard after a scrap for the ball outside the Partizan box, but Lingard's shot cracks the woodwork!
40' POST! Sadiq hits the woodwork
It's Partizan this time threatening United, as top scorer Sadiq hits the post! What a brilliant attempt that was completely out of nowhere!
43' PENALTY GOAL! Partizan 0-1 Man Utd (Martial)
PENALTY! Out of nowhere, United have a spot kick! Williams makes a surging run into the box and Miletic flies in to bring him down. It's an awful challenge and there can be no complaints.
MARTIAL SCORES! He'd been a complete passenger up until this point, but keeps his cool from the spot and tucks his penalty away into the bottom-left corner to net his third goal of the season.
51' SAVE! Romero parries Soumah shot
Soumah charges towards goal, tricks Maguire with some smart footwork - sending the £80million centre-back to the ground - and unleashes, but it's too close to Romero in the middle of the goal and he saves!
66' No penalty? Williams handball overlooked by ref
Partizan appeal for a penalty - Miletic's header from a corner hitting Williams on the hand! No VAR in the Europa League until the final, so no chance to review it.
73' CHANCE! Sadiq's long shot inches wide
Partizan maintain possession and work the ball up to Soumah in a good position. He lays the ball off neatly to Sadiq for a shot, but it's narrowly wide.
83' SAVE! Romero denies Asano's header
Natcho whips a corner into the six-yard box and Asano uses the pace of the ball to just redirect it goalwards from the near post, but Romero saves instinctively and palms it away from danger!