Memphis Depay scored a brace on his UEFA Champions League debut for Manchester United as they beat Club Brugge 3-1 at Old Trafford.
Manchester United chances of a return to the UEFA Champions League group stage got a boost after a 3-1 play-off victory over Club Brugge in the first leg on Tuesday.
Memphis Depay celebrates after scoring the second goal for Manchester United against Club Brugge
Memphis Depay put up a fantastic display on his European debut for United with two clinical finishes in the first half and made an assist for Marouane Fellaini to score the third goal late in the game.
Club Brugge took a shock lead in the 8th-minute through an own goal by Michael Carrick but Depay equalised five minutes later and scored again in the 43rd minute to give United a 2-1 lead going into the lead.
Brugge defender Brandon Mechele was sent off in the 80th for two bookings, before Depay put in a superb cross that substitute Fellaini scored from making it 3-1.
Manchester united will travel to Belgium with a two-goal cushion in the second leg of their tie against Club Brugge.
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal was pleased with the performance of former PSV Eindhoven attacker Depay who joined in the offseason.
“I want to kiss him tonight,” van Gaal said. “When you score two goals and the assist also, normally in the world you are the hero.”
Clube Brugge coach Michel Preud’homme lamented Fellaini’s goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
“This last goal was very bad for the confidence,” Preud’homme said.
Depay told BT Sport: “It is a nice feeling to score two goals at Old Trafford. We have to travel to Bruges and finish the job.”
Tuesday’s other play-off results;
Lazio Vs Bayer Leverkusen 1-0
Sporting Lisbon Vs CSKA Moscow 2-1
Astana Vs APOEL 1-0
Bate Borisov Vs Partizan Beogard 1-0
Read more on uefa.com