Mkhitaryan’s Moment of Magic – Top 5 Pictures That Sum Up Manchester United v Sunderland

Manchester United continued their good run of form in the month of December, as they defeated former Red Devils’ manager David Moyes’ Sunderland 3-1 at the Old Trafford on Monday. It was an uninspiring display in the first half hour from the 20-time league winners, but they grew into the game and managed to break the deadlock through Daley Blind just before half-time.

And they turned the heat on the Black Cats after the restart, with Jordan Pickford doing well to keep the scoreline intact. However, two goals in the space of four minutes from Zlatan Ibrahimović and Henrikh Mkhitaryan sealed the game for United. Sunderland did manage to score a goal in injury time, with Fabio Borini getting on the score-sheet, but it was a little too late.

Here are five amazing pictures from the game, that’ll sum up the exciting evening at Old Trafford:

5. Victor Anichebe misses golden opportunity

 

The first half was pretty much a sluggish affair, with either sides struggling to create chances. And at such a moment, Sunderland did manage to carve out a great opportunity. Jermaine Defoe sent a lovely chipped ball that found Victor Anichebe in the box, but the Nigerian scuffed his attempt completely from just 6 yards out spurning a golden opportunity to put the visitors ahead. And that proved to be a costly miss as Daley Blind put United ahead not long after.

4. Daley Blind Scores first time after a year

 

After a dull thirty minutes or so, United sprang to life with Paul Pogba getting close to goal but the score remained 0-0. However, it was about to change when, Ibrahimović, who hadn’t enjoyed the best of the starts to the game, used his strength well to hold up the ball and teed it up for the onrushing Daley Blind who made no mistake from inside the box, thumping in a powerful shot past Jordan Pickford to hand the Red Devils the lead. It was Blind’s first goal in the Premier League since September 2015 and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

3. Jordan Pickford continues to impress

 

Young Jordan Pickford has been one of the very few bright spots for Sunderland this season, with excellent performances in the Black Cats’ goal. And he was at it again on Monday at Old Trafford, thwarting United with a string of fine saves. The English goalkeeper made 6 saves on the evening and was the star for David Moyes’ team. Without him in the goal, things would have been much worse for the visitors.

2.Zlatan Seals the Deal

 

Zlatan Ibrahimović has been absolutely sensational for United over the past month or so. Having scored a double in the Red Devils’ 2-0 win at the Hawthorns last weekend, he continued his goal-scoring streak, grabbing the home team’s second goal in the 82^nd minute. It was the combination of Pogba and Zlatan at work again, as the Frenchman capitalized on some poor play by Didier N’Dong to send the giant Swede through on goal who slotted the ball perfectly past the brilliant Pickford to give United a two-goal advantage and with it sealing the three points.

Mkhitaryan’s Moment of Magic

 

Despite with the game in their bag, Jose Mourinho’s men did not take the foot off the gas and within four minutes of Ibrahimović’s strike, United had scored again, through a moment of sheer brilliance from Henrikh Mkhitaryan. The Armenian, making his return from injury, was picked out by Ibrahimović with a lovely cross from the right-wing, and Mkhitaryan hit home the ball with a stunning, acrobatic backheel flick over his head and past Pickford. It was an outrageous shot from the 27-year old and brought the entire stadium to its feet with his second goal in two games in the league. Truly a magical moment!