Manchester United Battles Tottenham Hotspur In Europa Finale
Manchester United booked its ticket to the Europa League final after a 4-1 semi-final thrashing of Athletic Bilbao on Thursday, giving the hosts a 7-1 aggregate win while Tottenham Hotspur beat Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt 2-0 for a 5-1 aggregate victory to reach the final.
United kicked off the night with a comfortable cushion thanks to their stunning 3-0 victory a week earlier in Bilbao. But Mikel Jauregizar put Athletic on the score sheet in the 31st minute after a terrible clearance attempt by Harry Maguire landed at the Spaniard’s feet and he unleashed a blistering shot from outside the box into the top corner.
The goal made for some nervy moments in Old Trafford but the mood shifted dramatically when Mason Mount, a second-half substitute, drew United level in the 72nd minute to finally silence the 5,000 singing Athletic fans. The midfielder latched on to a short pass from Leny Yoro before turning and firing past goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala.
Casemiro scored with a glancing header from a free kick seven minutes later and Rasmus Hojlund put the game out of reach in the 85th when Amad Diallo cut back the ball from the byline into the six-yard box and the Dane tapped it into an empty net. 2-1!
Mount completed his double in added time when he spotted Agirrezabala well out of his net and fired a left-footed rocket from about six yards inside the visitors’ half that hit the back of the net to close out the tie.
“My first goals at Old Trafford. A special night. It was too long (waiting for such a night),” Mount said. “I carried on going, working hard in training every day and tried to stay positive and when I had an opportunity to try to make an impact.”
“Today it paid off and I came on and affected the game. It was a tight game when I came on, I just tried to calm it down.”
Manchester United will now face similarly fellow Premier League strugglers Tottenham Hotspur in the final on the 21st of May, at Athletic Bilbao’s San Mames Stadium.
Tottenham Hotspur produced a gritty display to beat Bodo/Glimt 2-0 inside the Arctic Circle for a 5-1 aggregate triumph in the semi-final.
The north London club are now one win away from salvaging a troubled season with a first trophy since 2008.
The UEFA Europa League final between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United promises to be a thriller, as both sides would be seeking to capture a piece of silverware to cloud a poor Premier League season.
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