By Angu Lesley
Football Writer,kick442.com-Cameroon
Bryan Mbeumo marked his Champions League debut by making history as Manchester United returned to Europe’s elite competition with a commanding 4-0 victory over Sabah at Old Trafford on Thursday.
The Cameroon international started on the right side of United’s attack and played a decisive role in the first-half rout, providing a superb assist for Benjamin Šeško to score the third goal just before the interval.
Mbeumo received a long ball, controlled it in his stride and immediately released Šeško, who raced through on goal before rounding the Sabah goalkeeper and finishing into an empty net. It was the kind of direct attacking contribution United supporters have come to expect from the Cameroonian since his arrival.
The assist also gave Mbeumo a place in Manchester United’s European history. His Champions League goal contribution is the club’s first by an African player since Quinton Fortune scored against Porto on 25 February 2004.
More than two decades later, Mbeumo has ended that long wait, while also becoming the first Cameroonian United player to directly contribute to a Champions League goal since Eric Djemba-Djemba in 2003.
His landmark moment came during a dominant opening half from United. Matheus Cunha opened the scoring in the 27th minute before Bruno Fernandes doubled the advantage in the 42nd minute. Šeško then converted Mbeumo’s assist one minute later to send United into the break three goals ahead.
Lisandro Martínez completed the scoring in the 68th minute after Joshua Zirkzee set him up, giving United a comfortable four-goal victory and a perfect start to their Champions League campaign.
The result was particularly welcome for United after they were held to a dramatic 2-2 draw by Everton in their previous Premier League outing, despite twice taking the lead. Mbeumo had scored United’s first goal in that match and continued his impressive personal run by producing another important contribution against Sabah.
The night also belonged to Šeško, who scored his first Champions League goal for United, while Kobbie Mainoo was widely praised for his influential midfield display. United’s defence kept a clean sheet as Michael Carrick’s side controlled the match and avoided the kind of complications that had undermined their previous Champions League campaign.
For Mbeumo, however, the significance goes beyond the 4-0 scoreline. His first appearance in the Champions League has already produced a piece of Manchester United history — ending a 22-year wait for an African United player to register a goal contribution in the competition and restoring Cameroon to the club’s European record books.
Bryan Mbeumo has arrived on Europe’s biggest stage — and he has already made history.
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