Ighalo Misses Eclipsing 95-year Old Man United Record
As LASK go down 7-1 on aggregate
United get August 10 Europa League q-final date with Copenhagen
Former Nigerian international, Odion Ighalo’s incredible goal scoring run finally came to an end on Wednesday against LASK of Austria in their Europa League last 16 second leg clash at Old Trafford.
The outcome means the striker could not topple a Manchester United record that has stood for about 95 years.
Despite featuring from start to finish against the Austrians, the on-loan striker from Shanghai Shenhua of China could not break the Red Devils’ record set in 1925
Ighalo had scored in each of his first four competitive starts for the Old Trafford giants, a record set by Jimmy Hanson.
Hanson achieved the feat in 1925 when he scored in consecutive starts against Hull City, Blackpool, Derby County and Aston Villa, albeit, he was forced to retire following a serious injury five years later.
Ighalo was presented with a chance to eclipse the Englishman’s record having been handed a starter’s place in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad in Wednesday’s clash. However, he could not find the net against the bard fighting Valerien Ismael’s men who bowed 2-1 despite taking the lead through Philipp Wiesinger.
The former Watford man played every minute of the encounter, where he accounted for just one shot on target; four dribbles; and 16 passes; but was unable to put the ball behind goalkeeper Alexander Schlager.
Since joining United in a late January transfer deal, Ighalo began his scoring run with a goal in United’s 5-0 victory over Club Brugge in February, before scoring twice against Derby County in the FA Cup in early March.
On his third start for Solskjaer’s team, against LASK Linz in the Europa League, he scored and contributed an assist in a 5-0 victory, before opening the scoring against Norwich in a FA Cup quarter-final tie.
Notwithstanding his immense scoring record in matches in which he’s started for Manchester United, all of which have been in cup competitions, 31-year-old Ighalo is yet to score in the Premier League for the Red Devils.
Following his loan move to the English side on transfer deadline day from Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua, the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Golden Boot winner became an instant hit scoring four goals in his opening seven games to become the toast of the club’s fans. The impressive form earned him a contract loan extension with the Old Trafford outfit until January 2021.
Solskjaer’s United will now prepare for the meeting with Istanbul Basaksehir-slaying Copenhagen in Germany on Sunday, August 10, 2020
As for LASK, they have three friendlies scheduled before their 2020-21 season starts in the domestic cup against Siegendorf on August 27, 2020 – Goal.com
