Agencies
Manchester, August 19: Old Trafford rejoiced Tuesday in anticipation of their next famous No. 7 after Dutch forward Memphis Depay scored two sublime goals to inspire Manchester United to a 3-1 victory over Club Brugge in the first leg of Champions League play-off tie.
The 21-year-old struck twice in the first half, reviving memories of Wayne Rooney’s United debut 11 years ago when he netted a hat-trick in a Champions League game against Fenerbahce.
Memphis also provided a superb cross to set up the stoppage-time goal by Marouane Fellaini that sealed United’s win.
The Red Devils fell behind to an early Michael Carrick own goal. Victor Vazquez’s free-kick from deep on the left flicked off Adnan Januzaj and in attempting to clear the ball, Carrick succeeded only shinning it past his own goalkeeper, Sergio Romero, from 16 yards.
It was the first goal United had conceded this season, but they were level within five minutes as Depay opened his account for the club in style.
Picked out by Carrick’s pass, the Dutchman chested the ball up and flicked it over a defender’s head before tiptoeing into the box and arrowing a right-foot strike into the bottom-right corner.
Old Trafford erupted and although Romero was required to field a volley from Dion Cools, United would not be sated.
The visitors cause was not helped by the sight of veteran skipper Timmy Simons limping off through injury, with Claudemir replacing him, and in the 43rd minute the hosts went ahead courtesy of another fine strike from Depay.
This time the 21-year-old cut inside his marker wide on the left and arced a glorious shot inside the right-hand post from the corner of the box.
But for long periods of the second half it looked like United would fail to build on their lead, with Brugge custodian, Sebastien Bruzzese saving the shots of Juan Mata and Depay.
Romero gave the home fans a moment of discomfort when he dawdled over a back-pass, which almost let visiting substitute Obbi Oulaure in, but United were otherwise untroubled.
United finally made their dominance count when Fellaini headed home in the 94th minute
United’s manager Louis van Gaal was ecstatic about the display of Depay. “I want to kiss him (Depay) tonight, because when you score two goals and give an assist also, then normally you are the hero,” Van Gaal told reporters.
Depay however, wasn’t fully satisfied by his performance. “I’m Happy that we won. But I must admit I’m a bit disappointed because I didn’t score hat-trick,” he said