THAT’S SO SPAIN-FUL FOR JOSE
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ACTION Ben Yedder delivers knockout blow
SUPER-SUB Wissam Ben Yedder’s quickfire double knocked United out of the Champions League.
Ben Yedder had only just come on before he beat David De Gea with a low drive after 74 minutes.
He added a second four minutes later when his close-range header crept over the line despite De Gea’s efforts.
It was no more than Sevilla deserved after looking the more dangerous outfit in the second leg of this last-16 tie.
Romelu Lukaku did pull one back in the 84th minute, hooking in from close range.
But it was too little, too late on a dreadful night for United as the Spanish club won a match on English soil for the first time.
It was evenly poised before kickoff, with even United boss Jose Mourinho admitting neither side had an advantage.
United had relied on De Gea’s brilliance to keep it scoreless in the first leg in southern Spain. What United did have, though, was a strong home record this season with just one defeat.
Mourinho could also boast a proud record in this competition.
In 11 campaigns as a manager, he had reached the quarter-finals eight times.
The Portuguese had lost just seven of his previous 69 Champions League home games as a boss, while only Barcelona had conceded fewer goals than United in this season’s competition.
It all added up to the fact that defeat was unthinkable for United in their first Champions League home knockout game since 2014.
But Mourinho still couldn’t find room in his side for Paul Pogba, despite the Frenchman overcoming a thigh problem. The £90m star had to settle for a place on the bench, with Mourinho deciding to recall Marouane Fellaini in a defensive midfield role instead. United almost made a flying start when Lukaku outmuscled the defence within 60 seconds, but he shot high and wide. Sevilla grew into the game and their first threat came when Ever Banega’s corner was headed over by Joaquin Correa.
Then another break saw Muriel miss the target from an inviting spot. He threatened again with a shot across the face of De Gea’s goal as the visitors dominated.
The signs looked ominous for United and things went from bad to worse when Marcus Rashford picked out Lukaku with a sublime pass, but the Belgian’s woeful control wasted the chance.
United were living off scraps but could have gone ahead on 38 minutes when Alexis Sanchez slipped Fellaini into space, but he was unable to beat Sergio Rico.
Mourinho had a face like thunder as he walked towards the dressing room at half-time.
However, the second half carried on in the same vein and Sevilla would have gone ahead but for a superb challenge from Eric Bailly on Correra.
Mourinho had seen enough and sent on Pogba in the hope he could bring some sparkle to a dull United performance.
But Pogba was so bad he made Fellaini look good, giving the ball away on a regular basis to leave Mourinho utterly perplexed on the sidelines. MAN UNITED (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Valencia (Mata 77), Bailly, Smalling, Young; Fellaini (Pogba 60), Matic; Lingard (Martial 77), Sanchez, Rashford; Lukaku. Subs: McTominay, Darmian, Romero, Lindelof. SEVILLA (4-2-3-1): Rico; Mercado, Kjaer, Lenglet, Escudero; N’Zonzi, Banega; Sarabia, Vazquez (Pizarro 87), Correa (Geis 89); Muriel (Ben Yedder 72). Subs: Soria, Pareja, Nolito, Arana. Referee: Danny Makkelie (Holland).