The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Pogba off bench to send United into quarter-final draw
Paul Pogba returned from injury with a bang as the super sub fired Manchester United to victory at AC Milan and a place in the Europa League quarter-finals.
Simon Kjaer’s stoppagetime equaliser at Old Trafford last week left the return leg of this last-16 encounter between these European heavyweights fascinatingly poised.
Pogba missed the first leg with a thigh injury and made a timely return at the San Siro, where he scored minutes after his half-time introduction to secure a 1-0 win and 2-1 aggregate triumph.
The France midfielder’s smart 48th-minute strike was a gut punch for Milan, who could find no response.
● Mislav Orsic scored a brilliant hat-trick as Dinamo Zagreb produced a remarkable fightback to dump Tottenham out.
The Croatian side trailed 2-0 after the first leg of their last-16 tie but hit back to win the return 3-0 after extra time and snatch a place in today’s quarter-final draw.
Jose Mourinho’s Spurs looked set to prevail after holding the hosts in a goalless opening half at the Maksimir Stadium but Orsic gave Zagreb hope with a fine longrange strike just after the hour.
He then levelled the tie by finishing off a fine team move seven minutes from time and capped a fine comeback following a superb solo run in extra time. Spurs upped the tempo in a frantic finish but Dinamo held on for a deserved win.
● Arsenal were also below par but did enough to go through despite a 1-0 defeat by Olympiacos at the Emirates Stadium.
Youssef El-arabi, who also scored in the first leg, grabbed the only goal on the night but Mikel Arteta’s side held on for a 3-2 aggregate win.
● Roma cruised through as they claimed a 2-1 win over Shakhtar Donetsk in Kiev to win 5-1 on aggregate.
Laliga side Granada reached the last eight despite going down to a last-gasp defeat at the hands of Molde in Norway.
An own goal from Jesus Vallejo and a last-minute penalty from Eirik Hestad gave the Norwegians a 2-1 success but Granada, who scored a crucial away goal through substitute Roberto Soldado, progressed 3-2 on aggregate.
Villarreal beat Dynamo Kiev 2-0 to advance 4-0 on aggregate and Ajax went one better with last night’s 2-0 victory over Young Boys completing a 5-0 aggregate win.