Edin for the final
Solskjaer can toast reaching a first final after another Edinson double
CAVANI AT DOUBLE AS REDS EASE THROUGH DESPITE DEFEAT:
OLE GUNNAR Solskjaer finally kicked his semi-final exit habit as Manchester United rolled into the Europa League final despite defeat in Rome.
The heavy punishment inflicted by United on Roma at Old Trafford proved decisive despite a rollercoaster second leg at the Stadio Olimpico.
Two goals from Edinson Cavani – who terrorised the Italians over the course of the tie – made sure of their passage but United went down on the night to a deflected goal from Polish teenager Nicola Zalewski seven minutes from time.
It means that after four semi-final defeats with the club in 15 months, manager Solskjaer will finally have a final to look forward to in Gdansk on May 26. Cavani, who was involved in five of the first-leg goals, made hay against a highly splinter-able home defence weakened by the loss of Chris Smalling after half-an-hour and his 39th-minute strike was a cracker.
A sweeping move started from the edge of his own penalty area by a tackle from Paul Pogba saw the Uruguayan blast a thunderous finish home after two flicks from Bruno Fernandes and a penetrating final ball from Fred.
The only element of the midfield missed out was Donny van de Beek, which is the story of his United career so far.
The Dutchman’s first European start since November saw plenty of huff and puff but not much else. His team-mates took the opportunity to enjoy themselves with Fernandes at one point attempting to score with a scorpion that ended up looking more like a crime scene outline as he struck fresh air.
There were surging runs out of defence from Eric Bailly and Harry Maguire too. But United’s carefree attitude threatened momentarily to blow up in their faces when first Edin Dzeko struck and then Bryan Cristante weighed in on the hour.
United’s defensive cohesion had been hit by the withdrawal of Aaron WanBissaka, who had been booked for sending Carles Perez cartwheeling, as a precaution and goalkeeper David De Gea was called upon to make a string of fine close-range saves.
But Cavani calmed any jitters with his 68th-minute header from Fernandes’s cross. It was his sixth goal in his last five games – no wonder Solskjaer is so keen to tie him down for another year.
De Gea was wrong-footed by substitute Alex Telles’s deflection of Zalewski’s volley in the 83rd minute but United’s cushion was sufficient.
Only one side have surrendered a 6-2 first-leg deficit in the tournament’s history including its previous incarnation as the UEFA Cup – Queens Park Rangers against Partizan Belgrade 36 years ago.
In the end that fate did not befall Manchester United.
United have five games to shoehorn in before the final.
But the prospect of a first trophy in four seasons should sustain them.