Sevilla serve up a chiller for Jose
JOSE MOURINHO’S worst fears came true as Manchester United crashed out of the Champions League.
Mourinho admitted on the eve of the game that United were not yet the best team left in the competition and have plenty of work to do before they can re-establish themselves as a European force. And their disjointed display in the second leg of the last 16 tie underlined it.
Two goals from Sevilla super sub Wissam Ben Yedder in the space of four minutes late in the second half left United needing three to go through to the last eight.
And although Romelu Lukaku pulled one back to spark a late fightback, it was too little too late on a night when United paid for defensive hesitancy.
With the Premier League title already heading to the Etihad, it leaves United needing to lift the FA Cup to ensure some silverware in Mourinho’s second season in charge.
Sevilla had consistently threatened to exploit a hesitant United defensive display but it was not until Ben Yedder’s entrance into the game after 72 minutes that they found the cutting edge.
He finished off a fine move with a low shot in the 74th minute and added a header after a mistake by David de Gea for the second.
Lukaku fired in from a Marcus Rashford corner but United could have no complaints – and Ben Yedder was denied a hat-trick in added time by De Gea after he was sent clean through. United had made a fast and aggressive start to the game looking for an early goal with Lukaku setting the tempo.
The Belgian chased Ashley Young’s pass down the left, bullied Simon Kjaer off the ball, exchanged passes with Jesse Lingard but, with time and space to get a shot at least on target, he curled his effort wide. Sevilla looked unsettled and midfielder Ever Banega picked up a caution for chopping down Alexis Sanchez.
But the Spaniards weathered the early storm and reminded United of the attacking threat they had shown in the first leg. United did not help themselves with some nervy defending and loose possession but Seville were also guilty of some sloppy play in a scrappy spell.
Rashford had deservedly his place after his two-goal display in United’s 2-1 victory over Liverpool on Saturday and looked his side’s best outlet with his pace, underlined by one tremendous surge past two opponents but for the most part Sevilla kept him on a tight leash. United regained control towards half-time and Marouane Fellaini, recalled for youngster Scott McTominay, came close to making the breakthrough but keeper Sergio Rico saved his shot.
That sparked a spell where United peppered the Sevilla penalty area with crosses and shots but their final ball often lacked quality and the half ended goalless.
United went on the offensive in the second period, Lingard’s angled shot was palmed to safety by Rico and Rashford’s low cross skidded
through the six-yard box. United needed more quality in the final third and Paul Pogba entered the fray for Fellaini after an hour to huge cheers. And he was not far away from breaking the deadlock with a fine drive.
Sevilla continued to look dangerous on the break and from one superb move they took the lead through Ben Yedder, who had only been on the pitch a few minutes.
Mourinho responded by sending on Juan Mata and Anthony Martial for Lingard and Antonio Valencia but after Ben Yedder added his second it was all over, even though Lukaku pulled one back with his 25th of the season.
MAN UTD (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Valencia (Mata 77), Bailly, Smalling, Young; Fellaini (Pogba 60), Matic; Lingard (Martial 77), Sanchez, Rashford; Lukaku. Booked: Rashford. Goal: Lukaku 84.
SEVILLA (4-2-3-1): Rico; Mercado, Kjaer, Lenglet, Escudero; N’Zonzi, Banega; Sarabia, Vazquez (Pizarro 87), Correa (Geis 89); Muriel (Yedder 72). Booked: Banega, Sarabia, Correa, Yedder. Goals: Yedder 74, 78.
Referee: D Makkelie (Holland).