United and Villareal advance to semi-finals
MANCHESTER UNITED breezed past Spanish side Granada to book their place in the final four of the Europa League with a 2-0 win at Old Trafford.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men were in a commanding position before a ball was kicked last night after winning the first leg 2-0 away, and any lingering doubts over their progression were removed when Uruguyan centre-forward Edinson Cavani combined well with Paul Pogba to put the hosts ahead with just six minutes on the clock. A stoppage-time own goal from Jesus Vallejo secured a 2-0 win for the Red Devils.
The victory tees up a mouthwatering semi-final with Serie A giants Roma, with the first leg scheduled to be played in Manchester on Thursday 29 May, and the reverse fixture going ahead in the Italian capital the following week.
Paulo Fonseca’s side held a 2-1 lead from the first leg of their quarter-final against Ajax in Amsterdam but were given a fright at the Stadio Olimpico when Brian Brobbey opened the scoring with 17 minutes on the clock. Dusan Tadic had the ball in the net minutes later, only for the goal to be chopped off following a VAR check.
Towering striker Edin Dzeko then rubbed further salt into the Dutch side’s wounds as he levelled the scores on the night and Roma held on for a 1-1 draw.
And in the other quarter-final, La Liga outfit Villareal booked their place in the other semi-final with a 2-1 win over Dinamo Zagreb at home.
Manager Unai Emery – previosuly employed by the Gunners – watched on with satisfaction as goals from Paco Alcacer and Gerard Moreno put his side two ahead before Mislav Orslic grabbed a late consolation strike.