The pre-match pyro, with red and white smoke floating innocuously into the sky, petered out quickly. But Manchester United did not go out of Europe. The manufactured effort to generate an atmosphere was unnecessary. United supporters were vocally befitting the occasion, their biggest game since the Europa League final in 2017. The players rose to it. United's season will have something riding on it after the clocks go forward. As pleasing as their progression to the quarter-finals was the performance. There were flickers that the players are starting to master Ruben Amorim's system. In Europe, at least. This was one of United's most enterprising and assured performances since their head coach touched down in Manchester four months ago. Given the magnitude of the match, it augurs well for the last eight against Lyon next month. It is not a coincidence United operated so slickly with both of their winter transfer window signings in the starting XI for the first time. Ayden Heaven and Patrick Dorgu were instrumental. Heaven, only 18, was preferred over Victor Lindelof for his first career start and looked as much of a veteran as the Swede on his third United appearance. There is already a tremendous amount of goodwill towards the teenager who was so unconvincing for Arsenal when pitted against United in pre-season less than eight months ago. Dorgu had little joy with a lot of shots yet his relentless running took the game away from Sociedad. He cutely gained the tie-winning penalty before he was later upended by substitute Jon Aramburu, dismissed for a deliberate denial of a goalscoring opportunity. Amorim applauded the latter, as much for Dorgu's relentless running as Aramburu's expulsion. It is a minor footnote that United produced such a crowdpleasing performance without 11 players. The expectation, even for this goal-shy side, was still that they must win and they did. They will have a more senior squad in France. United put four past an opponent for only the fourth time this season. They required two penalties, conversions number 35 and 36 for Bruno Fernandes. However United perform and whatever the manner of the goal, it is almost always Fernandes who gets it. He notched his first hat-trick since the opening day of the 2021-22 season against Leeds United. Fernandes's third goal, running onto Alejandro Garnacho's lay-off, was brimming with conviction. He is the only United player who truly has it. Ordinarily, the 4-1 scoreline would have flattered Sociedad yet United reprieved them repeatedly. Unless Fernandes was staring down the goalkeeper Alex Remiro. Casemiro, responsible for picking the lock with a swift pass that led to the first penalty, could not watch either Fernandes kick from 12 yards. Erik ten Hag billed Casemiro as the "cement between the stones" and it is pouring back in. The Brazilian has had his best week of the season. Casemiro was treated to a standing ovation when he made way in the 78th minute and patted the United crest as he acknowledged the crowd. Conceding in the tenth minute was just about the best thing that could have happened to United. Amorim has seldom been more irate on the touchline as he was during that sloppy start that was compounded by Matthijs de Ligt ploughing through Mikel Oyarzabal inside the six-yard box. The crowd, prone to venting and booing this season, never turned. Their support was unwavering. This will not be a night to bracket with any of the knockout games against Barcelona, Porto, Juventus or Roma but it was an uplifting one after a progressive week. The volume remained turned up gone full-time. Txiki Begiristain, the outgoing director of football at City, was in the directors' box, enjoying some European football in Manchester. Lyon will have a larger and more partisan following in five weeks. They are unlikely to be subjected to the £5,000 pre-match pyro. Two bursts of red and white smoke that fizzled out quicker than a firecracker. A reused surfer flag was unfurled. Sociedad were more intense in the first 70 seconds than in the first 70 minutes in San Sebastian. Amorim demanded an explanation for United's carelessness and soon beckoned Dorgu forward. Dorgu had to halt his sprint and head in the opposite direction after possession was ceded again. Oyarzabal skied a penalty at the Stretford End in 2021. At the Scoreboard End, he scored. Andre Onana has now only stopped two out of 16 penalties he has faced for United, excluding shootouts. The busiest his night got was charging into the north-east quadrant to celebrate Diogo Dalot's added-time strike. United chief executive Omar Berrada echoed Amorim in midweek by referring to "the way of playing". United played the ball beautifully in the 31st minute, with every outfield player in the Sociedad half amid the patient and probing passing. Hojlund steered Zirkzee's slick cross wide of the far post but they were among the goals on this night. Hojlund's physicality and alertness were reminiscent of his early days for United against Arsenal and Galatasaray. Jolted by his weekend demotion, he earned the penalty, drew blood from Igor Zubeldia and was in the right place for Zirkzee's cross, but got the finish wrong. The odd teammate has been berated by Hojlund in recent months. Garnacho received applause for his blocked cross in the 39th minute. Hojlund's drought still extended to a 21st match. Fernandes was not as forgiving when Garnacho failed to lay the ball off for him to shoot. Fernandes avoided backchat following his first-half rugby conversion into the Stretford End. Fernandes can be cut some slack. He ensured the night ended with plumes of red smoke floating around the ground again.