Manchester United travelled to Belgium for the second leg of their Champions League play-off with Club Brugge 3-1 up from the first leg.
They were expected to progress to the group stages and they did in style with a 4-0 win, as captain Wayne Rooney scored a hat-trick.
The first goal was down to good play from Dutch winger Memphis Depay. The youngster took on two Brugge players, before finding Rooney with a perfect past, and the striker slotted home to virtually kill-off the tie.
Depay had two chances to double United’s lead on the night, but both were blocked by Brugge defenders.
Brugge briefly threatened a comeback, but on 49 minutes United did double their lead. Ander Herrera’s cross was tapped home into an unguarded net by Rooney.
Bastian Schweinsteiger was instrumental to United’s third goal, finding Juan Mata on the right and played Rooney in for the England striker to put the ball through the Brugge ‘keeper’s legs.
Former-Bayern star Schweinsteiger was again involved in United’s fourth on 63 minutes, as the World Cup winner put Herrera through on-goal and the Spaniard fired an effort into the right corner of the Brugge goal.
United could have added a fifth, but substitute Javier Hernandez missed from the penalty spot, following the referees decision to award United a penalty for a handball by Oscar Duarte.
United can now look forward to featuring in the Champion’s League group stages, after a two year absence from the competition.
Rooney proved some of his critics wrong with last nights performance and will now be hoping to find his scoring form in the Premier League this season.
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