Juan Mata high fives Manchester United fans after earlier forgetting them

Mata scored a brilliant free-kick to make it 2-0 at half-time

Tom Sheen
Monday 22 February 2016 21:33 GMT
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Juan Mata scored a brilliant free-kick
Juan Mata scored a brilliant free-kick (Getty Images)

Before curling in a brilliant first-half free-kick at New Meadow, Juan Mata proved just why he is such a hit with Manchester United fans.

The gifted Spaniard, who has been suffering through a patch of poor form lately, went out of his way to high five two young fans after he had earlier missed them.

As Louis van Gaal's players went back to the dressing room after their pre-match warm up, two young fans waited for high fives from the players.

Mata missed the pair, but upon realising went back out onto the pitch to make their night.

On what could have been a tricky night against fiesty League One opposition, Van Gaal's team were impressive, despite missing key players such as David De Gea and Wayne Rooney.

They dominated the game, and although it took them a while to break the deadlock, Shrewsbury Town never showed any attacking intent.

Captain for the night Chris Smalling opened the scoring with a scrappy goal, before Mata curled in an absolutely brilliant free-kick in first-half injury time to make it 2-0.

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