Manchester United 2-0 Huddersfield: Alexis Sanchez scores
For 54 minutes he had done nothing. No shots, no high intensity sprinting, no unselfish play to bring others into the game.
Given how Jose Mourinho had reacted to a similarly indifferent performance from Paul Pogba at Wembley, when hooking him from the action, Romelu Lukaku must have been in danger of having his afternoon ended early, given he had offered so little.
But then, in a flash, he was the saviour, the man who bust the dam. One flash of Lukaku’s left boot, connecting with a precise cross from Juan Mata, changed the course of a game and ensured the poignant 60th anniversary of the Munich air disaster could be celebrated with a victory.
Alexis Sanchez converted the rebound after missing from the penalty spot to score his first Manchester United goal
Sanchez's second half effort put United 2-0 up against Huddersfield but the visitors made it tough for Sanchez and his team
Sanchez is mobbed by Paul Pogba, who was named as a substitute, after scoring his first goal in United colours
Romelu Lukaku's left-footed strike put United into the lead against Huddersfield in the 55th minute of the match
Lukaku met a delivery from the left by Juan Mata to break down some stubborn Huddersfield resistance
Lukaku celebrates with Jesse Lingard and Alexis Sanchez after giving United the lead wit h his 19th goal of the season
PLAYER RATINGS, TABLE AND MATCH ZONE MANCHESTER UNITED (4-3-3): De Gea 6: Valencia 7, Smalling 7, Rojo 6, Shaw 6: McTominay 7, Matic 7, Mata 7 (Rashford 71mins 6): Lingard 6.5 (Pogba 64mins 6), Lukaku 6 (Martial 77mins 6), Sanchez 8. Subs not used: Romero (GK), Lindelof, Carrick, Young Booked: Mata, Sanchez Goals: Lukaku, 55, Sanchez, 68. Manager: Jose Mourinho, 7 HUDDERSFIELD (4-5-1):Lossl 7: Smith 6, Zanka 6, Schindler 6 (Hefele 59mins 6), Kongolo 5: Quaner 5, Hogg 6, Billing 6 (Mooy 33 6), Hadergjonaj 6, Van La Parra 6 (Ince 68mins 6): Depoitre 5. Subs: Coleman (GK), Malone, Pritchard, Mounie Booked: Smith, Hefele, Hogg, Billing. Referee: Stuart Attwell 6 Man-of-the-Match: Alexis Sanchez Att: 74,442 Season at a glance Live tables
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Romelu Lukaku's opener, detailed by Sportsmail's superb MATCH ZONE feature
Huddersfield, who had shocked United back in October, crossed the Pennines with a plan to stifle and frustrate and they were on course to do precisely that until Lukaku came off the periphery and did what a £90million striker should: one chance, one goal.
Lukaku, as it turned out, did not get to finish the game but by the time he made way for Antony Martial, the contest had been wrapped up with Alexis Sanchez crowning his home debut with the goal his energetic efforts deserved.
It was, from the start, an emotionally charged afternoon and the haunting ‘Flowers of Manchester’ song, written about that tragic day, was played just before an impeccably observed minute’s silence. Mourinho’s link with this club may only be brief but his programme notes struck the right tone. Those who perished, he said, would never be forgotten.
The expectation, however, that United would open up and mark the occasion with a display befitting the club’s heritage was misplaced, as Huddersfield arrived breathing defiance. They needed to, given how wretched their performance was against Liverpool four days earlier.
With five Huddersfield midfielders protecting the back four, United struggled to find a way through the massed ranks of blue and white shirts in the opening 20 minutes and only Jesse Lingard, who scuttled and scurried forward at every opportunity, looked capable of finding a way through.
Huddersfield's rearguard action in defence left United frustrated for large parts of the game at Old Trafford
Michael Hefele attempts to guide Marcus Rashford away from the Huddersfield goal in the second half at Old Trafford
Scott McTominay was left flattened by Huddersfield defender Terence Kongolo in the first-half at Old Trafford
McTominay, handed a rare United start in the Premier League by boss Mourinho, was left flat on the ground
Jesse Lingard and Chris Smalling appeal to the referee as McTominay lays injured on the ground at Old Trafford
After being assessed by two of United's physios, McTominay was fine to continue playing for United
Every tackle meant the world to Wagner’s players but their physical approach began to eat away at Mourinho, particularly in the 18th minute when left-back Terence Kongolo clattered into Scott McTominey in the area. Only referee Stuart Attwell will know why he never awarded a penalty.
Slowly, the disruption of play and the heavy challenges began to gnaw away at Mourinho and he came close to overstepping the mark when asking for a yellow card to be shown when Rajiv van la Parra for what he deemed to be unsporting behaviour. Mike Dean, the fourth official, gave the United manager a firm rebuke.
Yet his frustration was understandable. United were operating on another level to Huddersfield and there must have been a concern that territorial dominance would not end with them chipping in to Manchester City’s huge lead at the top.
Sanchez takes on Aaron Mooy as he made his first United appearance at Old Trafford in the Premier League
Sanchez endured a frustrating first half for United - a display which summed up the first for 45 for the hosts
Sanchez was booked in the first half for a challenge on Huddersfield man Florent Hadergjonaj
Pogba (top left) was named as a substitute after his underwhelming display in United's midweek loss at Tottenham
Pogba came on to replace Lingard in the 64th minute at Old Trafford, when United were winning 1-0
In Sanchez, though, he had an ace in the pack and from the 25th minute, when he skipped inside Florent Hadergjonaj and cracked a right footed drive that Jonas Lossl beat away, you could see he was ready to make an impact.
He was involved in the move that led to Lukaku scoring, pilfering the ball away Jonathon Hogg, giving it to Nemanja Matic and watching on as Mata’s inch-perfect delivery was confidently swept in at the near post by the Belgian.
Once United had the lead, they were never going to be beaten and 13 minutes later, a realistic look was put on the scoreline when Sanchez followed up after his initial penalty had been saved. The Chilean had also won the spot kick, substitute Michael Hefele chopping him down in desperation.
From that point, it was all very routine. It only turned out that way, though, thanks to a timely – and much-needed – intervention from Lukaku.
Pogba celebrates another three points for United a full-time as they recorded a hard-fought 2-0 victory
United were made to work hard for their win but once they went into the lead, they never looked like losing the advanatge