If Marcus Rashford had been able to stay awake for the first hour of this game, the Manchester United outcast might well have sat at home in Cheshire counting the number of chances he could have taken.
Ruben Amorim stressed in the build-up how much better United would be with Rashford firing on all cylinders, and for quite some time here in the National Arena his team gave a graphic demonstration to support his theory. It was a dour game against bang average opposition punctuated only by United’s missed opportunities.
Then Amorim sent on Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo at half-time, and United gradually came to life.
A much-improved Kobbie Mainoo, prospering in a more advanced role, set up the first goal for Diogo Dalot and scored the second himself to secure third place in the Europa League and automatic qualification to the last 16 where United will face one of FC Midtjylland, AZ Alkmaar, Real Sociedad or Galatasaray in March.
There hasn’t been much to shout about under Amorim, so we should at least credit him with clinching a third win in a row to finish unbeaten in the top-eight and avoid a two-legged play-off next month.
This competition may well offer United’s best chance of success in this most turbulent of seasons – as well as the most realistic shot at reaching the Champions League – and Amorin for one believes they can all the way to the final in Bilbao in May.
Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho combined for Manchester United’s second goal of the night
Diogo Dalot was rewarded for following up the play when he was able to tap into an empty net
The Portuguese broke the deadlock on the hour for the visitors in Romania on Thursday night
‘I think we can go game by game and we can win it,’ he said last night. ‘No matter the context, you are Manchester United so you must fight for winning trophies.
‘So we will see. When you get to this stage of any competition, anything is possible. They can prove, on a good day, they can win against anybody. So we can think about that (winning the competition).’
All the talk pre-match had centred around Rashford’s future after he was left behind in Manchester, but United still needed a positive result to be sure of advancing.
They should really have guaranteed it before half-time but wasted several chances after an early scare in which Mihai Popescu stuck out a leg to guide Risto Radunovic’s free kick a fraction wide of Altay Bayindir’s far post.
Mainoo was making his first start in three games and looked far more comfortable higher up on the left-hand side.
‘Kobbie played really well in that position,’ said Amorim. ‘He was struggling a lot defending as a midfielder. We need time to work with the players and understand the best positions for the game.
‘The opponent, with all respect, was not the same as in the Premier League. We scored two and should score more.’
Mainoo wasted the first two chances that came his way, controlling Lisandro Martinez’s pass over the top with one touch before fluffing a shot with the second, then firing over in front of goal from Rasmus Hojlund’s pullback.
Ruben Amorim’s side ended the League Phase in third place and secured qualification to the last 16
Garnacho was introduced in the second half and the Argentine winger inspired the Red Devils to victory
Hojlund continued to misfire and he headed straight at goalkeeper Stefan Tarnovanu from Martinez’s cross. The Dane is now without a goal in 24 of his 29 appearances for United this season.
Christian Eriksen forced Tarnovanu to block his effort from 20 yards and Martinez – warming to his role as a goal threat in recent games – swung a free kick over the bar from the edge of the area.
Amorim shook things up at half-time by sending on Garnacho and Diallo for Tyrell Malacia and Toby Collyer. Immediately, United looked more dangerous.
‘Garna has a different pace, he’s more like a forward, a winger,’ said Amorim. ‘Amad is really good one against one.’
It almost paid off within two minutes of the restart when Garnacho latched onto a poor back-pass and went through on goal, but once again the finishing was off as his effort clipped the outside of the post and went wide.
Bruno Fernandes then hit the bar from distance just before the hour mark and United were ahead moments later.
Eriksen fed Mainoo on the right and he drove into the box before firing a cross towards the back post. Dalot was there unmarked and he was able to hammer the ball home from a tight angle as Tarnovanu scrambled back across goal.
Steaua had hardly troubled Bayindir up to that point, but they went close to equalising almost straightaway.
United have now won their last three matches in all competitions and have kept clean sheets in back-to-back games
Florin Tanase rattled the bar with a long-range effort and the ball rebounded to Daniel Birligea who somehow headed wide, although the No.9 may well have been offside.
United made sure of victory in the 68th-minute when Mainoo capitalised on a poor touch by Steaua captain Adrian Sut, fed Garnacho and then got on the end of the Argentina winger’s low cross to sidefoot the second.
It was an excellent goal that belonged to a better game, but Amorim won’t quibble as he celebrates a bye through the play-offs and some more time to work with his players on the training ground.
‘That is really important for us, to have time to train and create a connection between everyone,’ he said.