Manchester United are through to the UEFA Europa League final after a dominant aggregate victory over Athletic Club. The Reds finished off the Basque side with a 4-1 thumping at Old Trafford on Thursday to book their own ticket back to Bilbao on May 21, where they’ll face Tottenham Hotspur.
Ruben Amorim’s side took their time putting nerves to rest, and even let up a goal in the first half to put the pressure on, but the substitutions made a difference after halftime as the tie was put to bed.
Mikel Jauregizar got the first goal of the match, a curler from long range powering through Andre Onana’s hands and into the top corner of the net. It was a difficult time to concede a goal, as United were playing sloppy at both ends and it seemed possible that Bilbao could find a way back in it.
At the attacking end, United wasted some good opportunities. Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund had poor first touches on balls from Bruno Fernandes and Patrick Dorgu, and Dorgu himself swiped a chance for Bruno and failed to produce.
Garnacho had a golden opportunity just before the break, opting to chip the keeper in a one-on-one and missing badly.
When the second half started as the first ended, it was clear changes were needed. Amorim sent on Mason Mount, Amad, and Luke Shaw to make it happen and was rewarded for it.
The momentum shifted, and before long Mount had put the ball in the net with a terrific turn and shot. The Stretford End celebrated in both joy and relief as the Reds surely put the tie away…
… But in case that wasn’t enough, the Reds added three more. A near post header from Casemiro, a driving cross from Amad to set up a Hojlund tap in, and a lob into an empty net from Mount finished the job and gave a celebratory end to what could have been a very stressful evening.
On to Bilbao.
Finish the job, lads.