The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Bruno Fernandes
EUROPA LEAGUE: Solskjaer’s Reds require extra-time to squeeze past Danes
is congratulated by team-mates after netting the extra-time penalty kick that booked Manchester United’s place in the semi-finals of the Europa League with a 1-0 win over FC Copenhagen in Cologne last night.
MANCHESTER UNITED 1 FC COPENHAGEN 0
Bruno Fernandes’ extra-time penalty edged Manchester United through to the Europa League semi-finals as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side toiled to victory against gutsy FC Copenhagen.
An overturned penalty, two disallowed goals and efforts off the woodwork frustrated the Old Trafford side during a goalless 90 minutes in which the Danish side looked dangerous despite failing to register a shot on target.
Fernandes would save the day from the spot in extra time, securing a 1-0 victory and a last-four date against Wolves or Sevilla back at Stadion Koln this Sunday.
United struggled to find a rhythm in the stifling Cologne heat but had the better of the chances, with the VAR ruling out a penalty and then Mason Greenwood’s emphatic strike in the first half.
Marcus Rashford saw a goal ruled out for offside before Fernandes hit a post in the second period, with Anthony Martial superbly denied as regulation time wound down.
The match was on a knife-edge as play headed into extra time, which was just five minutes old when Fernandes scored from a spot-kick won by Martial.
Copenhagen retained hope as goalkeeper Karl-johan Johnsson produced a string of superb saves and Victor Lindelof became the latest to hit the goal frame, but there was to be no late leveller for Stale Solbakken’s dogged side.
United looked to have a chance to take the lead against the run of play when Martial went down under pressure from Victor Nelsson, moments before Fernandes hit the crossbar, but after a delay the VAR ruled out the penalty for offside.
Another decision taken by those in front of monitors would frustrate United before half-time, with Rashford putting Greenwood in for a thumping strike that went in off the far post but he was ruled offside.
United probed with increased regularity when they returned from half-time and Rashford found the net in the 57th minute, only to be ruled offside when reacting quickest to a Greenwood shot hitting the woodwork.
Fernandes became the latest to hit the goal frame when trying his luck from 25 yards, with the Danish side remaining a threat as long as the match was scoreless.
Bryan Oviedo wasted a great chance to put Copenhagen into a 65th-minute lead as Aaron Wan-bissaka threw himself in the way of the substitute’s shot following fine build-up play.
Solbakken was furious not to be awarded a penalty when former United full-back Guillermo Varela went down under pressure from Brandon Williams, with anger turning to relief when Johnsson’s superb one-handed save stopped Martial bending home.
Nelsson’s superb challenge halted Martial’s stoppage-time slalom as a helter-skelter 90 minutes came to a conclusion, with the France international denied from an acute angle shortly after the restart.
Juan Mata was impressing from the bench and saw an effort saved in extratime, with Rashford then thwarted when through one-on-one.
Johnsson was impressing in the Copenhagen goal and superbly denied Fernandes, before halting Mata with his feet and seeing Lindelof hit a post.
Copenhagen desperately searched for a leveller in the second period but could not find a way through.
Inter Milan beat Bayer Leverkusen – who beat Rangers in the last round – 2-1 in last night’s other semi-final.
Tonight Wolves play five-time winners Sevilla, while Shakhtar Donetsk take on Basel. Kick-offs 8pm.