Sheriff Tiraspol vs. Manchester United result, highlights & analysis as Ronaldo nets first goal of 2022/23 in 2-0 win

Feargal Brennan

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Sheriff Tiraspol vs. Manchester United result, highlights & analysis as Ronaldo nets first goal of 2022/23 in 2-0 win image

Manchester United clinched their first Europa League win of the 2022/23 season as they picked up a 2-0 victory away in Moldova against Sheriff Tiraspol.

Jadon Sancho's early goal settled the visitors nerves in Chisinau before Cristiano Ronaldo's spot kick opened his goal scoring account for the campaign.

With the contest effectively over in the second period, United's intensity dropped off, and Sheriff posed a sporadic comeback threat.

However, with no domestic game this weekend, United now head off into the international break on the back of four wins in their last five games in all competitions.

MORE: Story of FC Sheriff name: How Moldovan club and Man United's Europa League opponents got their badge and brand

Ronaldo off the mark to give ten Hag pause for thought

Ronaldo's desire to leave United was the big summer story at Old Trafford with the Portuguese international eventually blocked from his objective of moving on in search of Champions League football.

Ten Hag has adopted a straightforward line over the 37-year-old's role at United, with a substantial amount of pre-season missed during the stand off, and just one Premier League start to his name ahead of the international break.

How the former Ajax coach manages Ronaldo in the coming months will be a key question for him, but a first goal of the campaign - alongside Marcus Rashford's injury - could see him brought back into the fold next month.

Sancho unfazed by England omission

Gareth Southgate's decision not to include Sancho in his England squad for UEFA Nations League duty this month was viewed with bemusement by United fans.

A goal in Moldova brings him up to three goals so far in 2022/23, more than half of his overall tally from last season, and Ten Hag has revived his confidence in recent weeks.

Despite the arrival of Antony, Sancho remains a vital figure in Ten Hag's plans, and the pair seem to be his first choice wide options alongside Rashford.

When will Ten Hag unleash Casemiro?

United's move for Casemiro was viewed as a statement transfer by the club in the final days of the transfer window as the Brazilian arrived with a sack full of silverware from Real Madrid.

The 30-year-old midfield lynchpin brings with him experience of winning the biggest trophies into a United side in transition under Ten Hag.

Casemiro scored the game-winning goal against Getafe in a 2-0 La Liga win on April 9, 2022
(Getty Images)

Another cameo off the bench tonight indicates the United boss is still waiting for the right time to bring him into the starting XI, but the incoming international break means another spell away from the training ground, and he could face a battle to feature regularly before the World Cup.

Sheriff Tiraspol vs. Manchester United final score

  1H 2H Final
Sheriff Tiraspol 0 0 0
Manchester United 2 2 2

Goals:

Sancho - MU - 17th Min

Ronaldo - MU - 40th Min

Sheriff Tiraspol vs. Manchester United as-it-happened

FULL TIME: SHERIFF TIRASPOL 0 MANCHESTER UNITED 2

Job done for United in Moldova as Sancho's superb finish and Ronaldo's first goal of the campaign ended the contest before the break.

Ten Hag's side head off for the international break with a first European win of the season under their belt.

90 Mins: Harry Maguire and teenage star Alejandro Garnacho sent on for the briefest of cameos by ten Hag.

Two minutes added on.

83 Mins: There will be no Goal No.700 for Ronaldo as he is replaced by Anthony Elanga for the final stages in Moldova.

Real Sociedad retake the lead via former Crystal Palace striker Alexander Sorloth - 2-1 to the home side in Spain.

79 Mins: Easy pickings for de Gea as he gathers in a speculative effort from Cedric Badolo.

75 Mins: A late double change for Sheriff with Brazilian duo Felipe Vizeu and Pernambuco come on for Akanbi and Abou Ouattara.

71 Mins: United will want that third goal to wrap the win up in the closing stages as Ronaldo slips one over the bar.

Another change from ten Hag as Luke Shaw comes on for Dalot.

65 Mins: Second booking of the night as Atiemwen fouls Tyrell Malacia.

60 Mins: United almost play themselves into trouble as Varane's weak header is seized on by Rasheed Akanbi but his ambitious effort drops over de Gea's crossbar.

55 Mins: United are bossing possession at the start of the second period, but no sign of a third goal, as the visitors look to ensure a first European win of the campaign.

Elsewhere in Group E, Real Sociedad lead 1-0 at home to Omonia.

50 Mins: A bright start from United as Fernandes forces an instinctive block from Sheriff keeper Maksym Koval.

46 Mins: WE ARE BACK UNDERWAY!!!

Casemiro comes on for Scott McTominay for the second half.

SOME HALF TIME READING - Check out the story of Sheriff Tiraspol and how they came to dominate Moldovan football here.

HALF TIME: SHERIFF TIRASPOL 0 MANCHESTER UNITED 2

Routine for United after a shaky start in Chisinau with Sancho's sharp finish and Ronaldo's first goal of the campaign putting them in a solid half time lead.

40th Min: PENALTY TO UNITED!!

Dalot is clumsily brought down by Patrick Kpozo inside the box and Ronaldo thumps home from the penalty spot for his first goal of 2022/23.

*Video available in the UK

*Video available in the US

36 Mins: A quick flurry of chances for United, as Ronaldo blazes over and Sancho's flick is hacked off the line.

30 Mins: United have settled into a rhythm now as Raphael Varane heads just over from a free kick.

23 Mins: Sheriff almost hit back immediately as Iyayi Atiemwen's awkward effort bounces just wide of de Gea's post.

*Video available in the US

17 Mins: UNITED TAKE THE LEAD!!!

After a slow start, United step up a gear as Christian Eriksen carves through the Sheriff defence, and Jadon Sancho steps past a tackle on the edge of the box to fire the visitors ahead!!

*Video available in the UK

That England omission does not seem to be on his mind!!

*Video available in the US

15 Mins: First chance of the game falls to Sheriff, as Diogo Dalot's loose pass gives away possession, and Mouhamed Diop fires over the top.

At the other end, Ronaldo takes a tumble inside the box, but the referee waves away his penalty appeals.

10 Mins: A few early nerves for United in Chisinau as David de Gea lashes a clearance out of play and Cristiano Ronaldo's first break forward is halted.

KICK OFF: SHERIFF TIRASPOL V MANCHESTER UNITED

10 Mins to KO: More from the United boss ahead of KO

"Pressure is there for every game, because we have to win every game.

When you lose the first game, you have to win the second, so we know what our task is tonight."

20 Mins to KO: Elsewhere is Group E, Real Sociedad welcome Omonia to San Sebastian, with Imanol Alguacil's hosts aiming for successive Europa League wins.

KO off at the Estadio Anoeta is the same time as United get underway in Chisinau.

30 Mins to KO: Erik ten Hag on Sheriff test

"It's quite clear, they beat Real Madrid and Shakhtar (last season), they are capable. We have to make it our game but we are conscious of that fact. They are a serious and decent opponent and we have to play our best for the win."

1 hr to KO: TEAM NEWS IS IN!!

Sweeping changes from Erik ten Hag in Moldova following United's 1-0 defeat at home to La Real last time out.

Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane replace Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof in defence with Scott McTominay starting over Casemiro in midfield.

Bruno Fernandes captains the visitors, in place of Fred, with Jadon Sancho in for Anthony Elanga.

 Sheriff are unchanged from their 3-0 win away at Omonia last week.

1 Hr 15 Mins to KO: A world away from Old Trafford, United will take on Sheriff Tiraspol at the Zimbru Stadium tonight, home to Zimbru Chisinau and the Moldova national team.

Sheriff's home ground - the Sheriff Stadium - is located in Transnistria, and following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, UEFA have stated Sheriff cannot play European games in the region.

1 Hr 30 Mins to KO: Manchester United duo Rashford and Sancho omitted from England squad

Despite a positive start to the 2022/23 season, Red Devils pair Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho have missed out on Gareth Southgate's England squad for this month's UEFA Nations League games.

Rashford is out through injury, as Sancho is overlooked, in the final rehearsal ahead of the 2022 World Cup, but Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw are included.

Sheriff Tiraspol vs. Manchester United lineups

Sheriff head coach Stjepan Tomas names an unchanged starting line up from their opening win away in Cyprus.

Sheriff Tiraspol lineup (4-3-3): Koval (GK) — Kpozo, Radeljić, Kiki, Zohouri — Badolo, Kyabou, Diop — Rasheed, Atiemwen, Ouattara

Sheriff Tiraspol subs (8): Celeadnic (GK), Heron, Vizeu, Moumouni, Salifu, Pernambuco, Pascenco, Guedes

Ten Hag rotates his starting XI again with Bruno Fernandes, Cristiano Ronaldo and Raphael Varane all starting.

Manchester United lineup (4-3-3): De Gea (GK) — Malacia, Martinez, Varane, Dalot — Fernandes, Eriksen, McTominay — Sancho, Ronaldo, Antony

Manchester United subs (12): Heaton (GK), Vitek (GK), Maguire, Lindelof, Fred, Casemiro, Elanga, Shaw, Garnacho, McNeil, Iqbal, Garnacho

MORE: Where is the 2023 Europa League final? When does the 2022/23 UEL season start?

What time is Sheriff Tiraspol vs. Manchester United?

Sheriff Tiraspol play host to Manchester United at the Bolshaya Sportivnaya Arena in Tiraspol, Moldova. It kicks off at 17:45 BST on Thu, Sep 15.

  UK USA Canada Australia
Date Thu, Sep 15 Thu, Sep 15 Thu, Sep 15 Fri, Sep 16
Time 17:45 BST 12:45 ET 12:45 ET 02:45 AET

How to watch Sheriff Tiraspol vs. Manchester United

  UK USA Canada Australia
TV channel BT Sport 2 - - -
Streaming BT Sport website/app Paramount+, TUDN USA, Univision NOW, TUDN.com, VIX+, TUDN App, UniMás, fuboTV  DAZN Stan Sport

UK: Europa League matches are carried across BT Sport streaming and TV platforms. United's match will be shown on BT Sport 2.

USA: Selected matches are televised on Paramount+ with additional options via Spanish language channels TUDN USA and Univision, which are available to stream via fuboTV. 

Canada: Every Europa League match all season long are broadcast in Canada via DAZN.

Australia: Every Europa League match all season long are streamed in Australia via Stan Sport.

Feargal Brennan

Feargal Brennan Photo

Feargal is a content producer for The Sporting News. He has been working with TSN since the start of 2022 after stints with Reach, Amazon UK and Squawka in a nomadic career in the football media pyramid. Always with a keen eye on Arteta's 'Reds' and Kenny's Ireland 'Greens' and a 100% five-a-side penalty record.