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United defrosts in 2nd stanza to confirm last-32 progression at Zorya

Peter Cziborra / Reuters

Manchester United shook off the eastern Ukraine chill to bag a 2-0 victory at Zorya Luhansk on Thursday, confirming advancement into the Europa League's final 32 via a second-placed finish in Group A.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan burst through the Zorya ranks with a breathless run on 48 minutes, evading Rafael Forster's limp challenge before coolly converting beyond Igor Levchenko for his first competitive United strike.

Related - Watch: Mkhitaryan pockets 1st United goal after penetrative run

Zlatan Ibrahimovic then added gloss to the tie two minutes before the end of normal time after galloping onto a smart first-time ball from Paul Pogba.

Although progression to the knockout rounds was confirmed, Fenerbahce's 1-0 win at Feyenoord coming courtesy of an overhead kick from Moussa Sow, meant that United enters the last 32 as an unseeded team.

There were concerns ahead of the match over the state of the pitch in the sub-zero temperatures. The surface was tough and cut up in a manner more reminiscent of Sunday League pitches in Stretford, rather than in a continental competition.

But luckily for Jose Mourinho, United came through the clash unscathed. There was a brief scare, though, when Eric Bailly fell awkwardly on the hardened turf after almost two months out through injury.

The runner-up placing in the quartet with Fenerbahce, Feyenoord, and Zorya means United could face a daunting two-legged meeting with the likes of Olympique Lyonnais, AS Roma, or Zenit St. Petersburg in the Round of 32.

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