Manchester United beat Sabah 4-0 on Champions League return

Goals from Matheus Cunha, Bruno Fernandes, Benjamin Sesko and Lisandro Martinez seal a winning UCL return for United.Manchester United returned to the Champions League in style with a 4-0 league phase win against competition debutants Sabah of Azerbaijan.Three-time winners United were making their first appearance in Europe’s most elite club tournament in three seasons and stormed into a three-goal lead at the break in Thursday’s match thanks to goals by Matheus Cunha, Bruno Fernandes and Benjamin Sesko.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4England close in on Pakistan whitewash in third Test as Robinson shineslist 2 of 4Pakistan U19 cricketers mistaken for asylum seekers by protesters in UKlist 3 of 4Qatar beat Iran in men’s basketball as Asian Games begin in Japanlist 4 of 4New faces, same old problems: Pakistan all out for 133 in 3rd England Testend of listThe home side rounded off the victory in the second half through Lisandro Martinez, but it was not completely free of anxiety.It had been a slow start by United, which drew some minor groans from the Old Trafford faithful, but any nerves settled once Cunha tapped in Patrick Dorgu’s low cross in the 27th minute.There was an alarming moment later, for the home side, when Kaheem Parris drove into the box before standing up a perfect cross to Joy-Lance Mickels, who should have made no mistake with his header, but nevertheless failed to score.United captain Fernandes, who was among the candidates for the 2026 Ballon d’Or award, netted the second after a passing move that showed the growing confidence in the home side.Sesko was sent through for the third on the stroke of half-time, and the Slovakian forward rounded the keeper – resisting the temptation to go down for a penalty – before slotting home from a tight angle.Cunha went close to his second, and United’s fourth, on the hour mark, but his curled effort from the edge of the box was too close to the keeper. Fernandes failed with a similar effort mere seconds later.