Como's finishing ran well ahead of their chances against United

Nico Paz scored inside two minutes and Como beat Manchester United 4-1, with their finishing doing far more than their chances alone would have suggested.

Nico Paz had scored inside the first two minutes, and by the 57th minute Como were three goals clear of Manchester United. That start gave the night a comfortable look on the scoreboard. The more useful question is whether the chances really justified such a margin, and the answer is only partly.

Expected goals is a rough measure of how good each chance was, judged by where and how it was struck. Como's total came to 2.12, against an average of 1.77 for a side in this competition, so they were creating more than the usual number of good openings. Their goals went beyond even that total, and it was the finishing rather than the volume of chances that made the difference.

United actually had more shots than Como and held 45% of the ball. Their expected goals of 1.11 sits well below that same average, though, and most of their efforts came from outside the box, where a chance is harder to turn into a goal. Shooting often is not the same as shooting well, and United's shots were mostly the kind that rarely go in.

Como's attacks were closer to goal. Eight of their shots came from inside the box, against five for United, and that difference is the most telling detail of the match. The home side also forced United's goalkeeper into the most work, and Lammens made four saves in reply to the three that Como's keeper had to make.

Nico Paz was at the centre of almost everything Como did in front of goal. He scored twice and set up Anastasios Douvikas's goal at 49 minutes, which made it 2-0 and started the rout. Jacobo Ramón added a fourth goal in the 76th minute from a Kaiki Bruno assist, and that finish settled the question long before the end.

United also picked up three yellow cards to Como's one. Andrey Santos was booked in the first half, while Carlos Baleba and Shea Lacey were cautioned later on. Nobody was sent off, so both sides finished the match with eleven players on the pitch and the result was decided by what happened with the ball.

Zirkzee's goal in the 90th minute, set up by Amad Diallo, was United's only reply, and it arrived after the contest had long been settled. Diallo had been one of the few United players to beat his man regularly in the match, and his assist was the last useful action of the night.

Player of the matchN. Paz2 goals · 1 assist9.2

Jacobo Ramón Naveros1 goal7.9

T. Douvikas1 goal7.9

M. Baturina3 chances created7.5