Manchester United secures UCL win as Harry Amass makes debut

Manchester United are back in the Champions League, and they made sure everyone noticed. A 4-0 victory over Sabah FK at Old Trafford on September 10 gave Michael Carrick’s side the perfect start to their European campaign, while 20-year-old left-back Harry Amass got the kind of debut most academy graduates dream about.

A second-half masterclass at Old Trafford

The breakthrough came in the 27th minute when Matheus Cunha found the net to settle any early nerves. Bruno Fernandes doubled the lead in the 42nd minute. Benjamin Sesko made it three at the 45th minute, effectively killing the contest before the halftime whistle.

The fourth came courtesy of Lisandro Martinez in the 68th minute.

Martinez emphasized staying humble and turning attention immediately to the upcoming Manchester derby against City.

Amass arrives on the biggest stage

The feel-good story of the evening belonged to Harry Amass. The young left-back joined United from Watford’s academy in 2023 and won the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award in the 2024–25 season. He earned his first senior minutes under coach Rúben Amorim in March 2025 before earning his Champions League debut on September 10 — a match that also happened to be the club’s 300th in European competition.

Context matters: the long road back

United’s absence from the Champions League had stretched to nearly three years before this match. The appointment of Michael Carrick as manager was designed to change that trajectory.

Sabah FK were making their first appearance at this level, and the gap in quality was obvious from the opening whistle.

Eyes on the derby

Martinez’s post-match comments about humility and focus pointed directly to the upcoming Manchester derby against City. Four different scorers from four different positions — Cunha, Fernandes, Sesko, and Martinez — indicate a balanced attacking threat rather than dependence on a single outlet.

The 300th European match milestone adds a layer of historical significance that Old Trafford’s faithful won’t overlook.

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