United, Inter Milan reach Europa League last eight
PARIS: Manchester United edged LASK 2-1 and Inter Milan beat Getafe 2-0 on Wednesday in rescheduled ties due to the coronavirus pandemic to clinch places in the quarter-finals of the Europa League.
United had a 5-0 lead from their first leg played in March and will face Copenhagen, who enjoyed a 3-0 victory on the night over Istanbul Basaksehir.
Antonio Conte’s Inter Milan will face either Steven Gerrard’s Rangers or Bayer Leverkusen with the Germans holding a 3-1 lead going into yesterday’s match.
Romelu Lukaku and Christian Eriksen scored either side of the break for the Italians.
“It was a difficult match against a team that plays aggressively, but we did well, the defence did a good job and I’m happy to score for the team,” Lukaku told Sky Sport Italia.
Despite United’s comfortable lead from March 12’s first leg, the visitors caused problems early on.
Andres Andrade hit the crossbar with a powerful header after 10 minutes at an almost empty Old Trafford before Peter Michorl fired wide just after the quarter of an hour mark.
The Linz-based outfit had to wait until the second half to break the deadlock as defender Philipp Wiesinger rifled into the top corner from outside the box after 55 minutes.
Their celebrations were shortlived as Jesse Lingard equalised on the counter attack for United three minutes later.
Anthony Martial claimed the matchwinner with two minutes to go despite LASK goalkpeer Alexander Schlager getting a foot to the France striker’s shot.
Inter’s meeting with the La Liga side was played over just one leg in Gelsenkirchen to save time ahead of next week’s last eight to be held in Germany.
They advanced to the next round as Lukaku became the club’s first player to score in five straight European appearances since Brazilian striker Adriano in 2004.
Lukaku slotted home after Alessandro Bastoni’s long ball after 33 minutes.
The Spaniards were given a chance to take the game to penalties with 25 minutes remaining as VAR said Diego Godin had handballed in his own box but veteran forward Jorge Molina missed the resulting penalty.
Eriksen made sure of Inter’s spot after 84 minutes with his first touch after Dakonam Djene made a mess of a clearance inside his own area.
PERMANENT MOVE
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said on Wednesday Alexis Sanchez’s move to Inter Milan had been made permanent.
Chile midfielder Sanchez, 31, who joined Inter last August after a season and a half at Old Trafford, has scored four goals in 31 appearances for the Italian side.
“I can confirm that Alexis will be confirmed as an Inter player on Thursday,” Solskjaer told broadcaster BT Sport. “Alexis has had a good time over there, he’s a good player, so we wish him all the best,” he added.
Earlier, Inter chief executive Beppe Marotta said Sanchez had signed a three-year deal at the San Siro.
RESULTS
Last 16
At Kiev: Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR) 3 (Moraes 89, 90+3, Solomon 90+1)v Wolfsburg (GER) 0, Shakhtar win 5-1 on aggregate
At Copenhagen: FC Copenhagen (DEN) 3 (Wind 4, 53-pen, Falk Jensen 62) Istanbul Basaksehir (TUR) 0, FC Copenhagen win 3-1 on aggregate
At Manchester: Manchester United (ENG) 2 (Lingard 57, Martial 88) LASK (AUT) 1, Man U win 7-1 on aggregate
At Gelsenkirchen: Inter Milan (ITA) 2 (Lukaku 33, Eriksen 83) Getafe (ESP) 0, First leg postponed so played as a one-off tie