After defeating Athletic Bilbao 4-1 in the semi-final on Thursday, Manchester United secured their place in the Europa League final. Mason Mount scored twice to give the home team a 7-1 aggregate victory and a chance to win some hardware this season.
With one more victory, United, now occupying 15th position in the Premier League, may win the Europa League trophy for the first time since 2017 and qualify for the Champions League the following season.
On May 21, at San Mames Stadium in Bilbao, they will play Tottenham Hotspur, a similarly struggling team, in the all-Premier League final.
United’s thrilling 3-0 triumph in Bilbao a week prior gave them a substantial lead going into the evening.
However, Mikel Jauregizar gave Athletic the lead in the 31st minute when Harry Maguire’s dreadful clearance effort fell at the Spaniard’s feet, and he fired a dazzling drive into the top corner from outside the box.
The goal caused a few tense minutes at Old Trafford, but when Mount, a second-half substitute, tied the score for United in the 72nd minute to finally quiet the 5,000 cheering Athletic supporters, the atmosphere completely changed. Leny Yoro’s short ball was intercepted by the midfielder, who then turned and shot past goalie Julen Agirrezabala.
Rasmus Hojlund put the game out of reach in the 85th minute when Amad Diallo cut back the ball from the byline into the six-yard box and the Dane tapped it into an empty net. Seven minutes later, Casemiro scored with a glanced header from a free kick.
After receiving a cell phone, Diallo took a jubilant selfie with Hojlund and Yoro in front of the Stretford End partygoers.
After seeing Agirrezabala far out of his net, Mount finished his double in additional time. From roughly six yards inside the visitors’ half, he blasted a left-footed rocket that struck the back of the net and made United manager Ruben Amorim grin.
