Manchester United 4-1 Athletic Club [7-1 agg]: Red Devils progress to face Spurs in Europa League final after second-half win against Zurigorri | OneFootball

Manchester United have qualified for the UEFA Europa League final after claiming a 4-1 win over Athletic Club on Thursday. Ruben Amorim’s side progress as aggregate winners after a dominant 0-3 win in the Basque Country last week.

A comeback always looked improbable for the Basque Side and when, as a result of a plethora of injuries, Ernesto Valverde named a rotated front three that have only scored a combined four goals across all competitions this season, hopes of a remontada seemed to be well and truly dashed before kick-off.

But Mikel Jauregizar gave the Zurigorri a lifeline shortly after the half-hour mark at the Theatre of Dreams, picking out the top corner with precision to reduce the deficit.

It proved to be a false hope, though. United looked shaky following the break but were able to restore a three-goal cushion when substitute Mason Mount curled into the bottom corner inside the final 20 minutes. Casemiro nodded home from a corner soon after, extending the Red Devils’ lead further before Rasmus Højlund added a third late on.

Mount doubled his personal tally inside stoppage time, spotting an open goal from range after a poor clearance from the Basque shotstopper.

Victory over two legs against Athletic Club sends Manchester United to the UEFA Europa League final, set to be played at Bilbao’s San Mamés on Wednesday 21 May. Ruben Amorim’s side will face Spurs in an all-English final, following their victory over Bodø/Glimt.

As it happened

Athletic Club knew that the task facing them on Thursday would be an immensely difficult one, with the Zurigorri desperately needing to convert every chance that came their way if they were to mount a stunning comeback.

For the travelling fans, it was a disappointment when Álex Berenguer sent a thunderous effort flying high and wide of the far corner from inside the box – and when the Red Devils then forced a series of their own chances, it seemed certain that Ernesto Valverde’s side would be returning to the Basque Country empty-handed.

Mikel Jauregizar had other ideas. When Harry Maguire failed to deal with a long ball played forwards by Athletic Club, Álvaro Djaló looked to take advantage and teed up Jauregizar, with the 21-year-old midfielder burying his first-ever European goal into the top-right corner to instil belief amongst the 4,000+ away fans.

United sought desperately to restore their three-goal cushion before the break and should really have done so when the lively Patrick Dorgu sent Alejandro Garnacho through on goal, only for the Argentinian to dink his effort wide of the target after finding himself one-on-one against the goalkeeper.

It looked to be a missed opportunity that would come back to cost Thursday’s hosts when Athletic Club emerged from the break as a rejuvenated side. Berenguer made himself known as the key figure in the visitors’ attacks, but was left disappointed when his over-hit pass for Djaló was claimed by André Onana, just moments before the winger spurned a shot high and wide of the target from a low cross.

Unai Núñez’s header flew just wide of the target shortly after the hour mark as the Zurigorri squandered another opportunity to reduce the deficit further. It quickly proved to be costly as substitute Mason Mount arrived off the bench to pick out the bottom corner and restore parity on the night, turning home after a tidy spin inside the box from a Leny Yoro lay-off.

Mount’s strike opened the floodgates with two further goals following in quick succession, as Casemiro nodded home from a Bruno Fernandes corner before Rasmus Højlund turned a cutback from Amad past Julen Agirrezabala in the 85th minute – but it was Mount who would steal the headlines when he spotted an open goal inside stoppage time and pounced from distance after a poor clearance from the goalkeeper.

The lineups