Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored the only goal of the match as Manchester United recorded a 1-0 win over Zorya Luhansk in Thursday's Europa League Group A clash at Old Trafford.
The hosts struggled to create opportunities against the stern Ukrainians, but Ibrahimovic headed home from close range in the 69th minute to move Jose Mourinho's team onto three points in the section.
Mourinho made four changes from the team that recorded a 4-1 win over Leicester City at the weekend, but one of those was not Wayne Rooney, who remained on the bench for the Red Devils.
Sergio Romero, Timothy Fosu-Mensah, Marcos Rojo and Marouane Fellaini all came in for the home side, but Mourinho decided against rotating Ibrahimovic and Marcus Rashford in the final third of the field.
It was the away side that had the game's first half-chance inside six minutes, although attacking midfielder Zeljko Ljubenovic could only fire into the stands after a smart pick-out from Ivan Petryak. Man United came close down the other end three minutes later, but Fellaini headed a Juan Mata corner over Oleksii Shevchenko's crossbar.
Despite Man United dominating the possession in the opening 20 minutes, Zorya were showing their threat on the counter-attack as Oleksandr Karavaev and Petryak were both given opportunities to stretch their legs.
Rashford had the home side's first real chance of the match in the 21st minute, but the 18-year-old smashed the crossbar with a sensational half-volley, moments after Ibrahimovic had a long-range effort deflected past the post.
Ibrahimovic had the chance to threaten from a free kick just past the 30-minute mark at Old Trafford, but the Swede's effort was straight into the Zorya wall as the visitors remained comfortable.
Mata, Jesse Lingard and Fellaini all had half-chances for the Premier League outfit in the final stages of the first period, but all three efforts, which were headers, failed to test Shevchenko in the Zorya net as a disappointing opening 45 minutes, which did not produce a single shot on target, finished goalless.
It was the visitors that had the first opportunity of the second period in the 50th minute, but Ljubenovic just could not stretch and meet a cross from the right, which had deceived both Smalling and Eric Bailly inside the Man United box.
The Red Devils continued to struggle as the match approached its hour mark and the home supporters started to show their displeasure at a performance which lacked creation and pace in the final third.
Zorya actually came close to scoring in the 66th minute when Paulinho struck one from distance, but Romero made the save. Indeed, Mourinho had had enough by the 67th minute and called for Rooney, who replaced Lingard.
Finally the breakthrough came in the 69th minute when Ibrahimovic headed home from close range after Rooney's shot from a Fosu-Mensah cross had bounced to the Swede, who was too strong for the Zorya defence at the far post.
The home side looked to press home their advantage as Anthony Martial and Ashley Young followed Rooney onto the field, but chances were few and far between in the latter stages as Zorya continued to sit deep despite falling 1-0 behind.
Fellaini sent a decent volley over the crossbar late on before Ibrahimovic tested Shevchenko with a free kick as Man United threatened a second, but it finished 1-0 as the 20-time English champions recorded their third straight win in all competitions.
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