Bruno Fernandes scored twice as Manchester United secured a commanding 3-0 away victory over 10-man Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League semi-final first leg on Thursday.
The home crowd erupted in anger after Athletic defender Daniel Vivian was shown a red card for dragging back Rasmus Hojlund, leading to Fernandes converting the resulting penalty. Casemiro had earlier given United the lead against the run of play.
Fernandes then added a third before half-time, propelling Ruben Amorim’s side closer to the final, which will be held at San Mames, Athletic’s home ground.
The Basque club had been dreaming of clinching a maiden European title on home soil, but those hopes were dashed by United’s focused performance and, in the eyes of the local fans, questionable officiating.
Struggling in 14th place in the Premier League, United’s only realistic chance of qualifying for the Champions League and accessing the lucrative £100 million ($133 million) prize is by winning the Europa League.
Despite their inconsistency this season, including a dramatic comeback against Lyon in the quarter-finals, United showed resilience and composure in the hostile atmosphere of Bilbao.
“We looked a little bit nervous at times in the first 20 minutes… we weathered the storm and we knew we’d get our chance,” Man United’s Harry Maguire told TNT Sports.
“It was a clinical first half, professional second half… It’s a great victory in the end but there’s another big game next week.”
With May 1 a bank holiday in Spain the streets of Bilbao were filled with red-and-white striped shirts from the morning onwards, in party mode.
The San Mames was rocking as fans greeted their heroes, all of them born or raised in the Basque country, as per the club’s century-long policy.
Alejandro Garnacho’s early strike gave the hosts a scare but the forward was offside.
Beyond that the early stages of the match for United were about gritting their teeth and holding off the Basque side and their raucous supporters.
Red card rocks hosts
Alex Berenguer forced a smart low save from Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana, and Inaki Williams headed narrowly over.
Victor Lindelof’s crucial block denied Berenguer after a promising move involving the Williams brothers.
The breakthrough came unexpectedly, with Maguire advancing down the right and delivering a precise cross that Manuel Ugarte flicked on to Casemiro, who nodded home from close range.
Just as much of a surprise was how United created the goal, with centre-back Maguire dribbling down the right flank as Mikel Jaureguizar floundered in his wake.
The defender fizzed a cross into the area, which Manuel Ugarte flicked on to the back post for Casemiro to nod home from close range.
It seemed like a smash-and-grab but soon United had a second, when Vivian was penalised for pulling back Hojlund as he tried to connect with a cross.
The defender was sent off to add insult to injury, as Athletic fans howled in anger, and Fernandes rolled home from the spot.
Athletic coach Ernesto Valverde made a double substitution, trying to stem the bleeding, but his team shipped a third before half-time.
Ugarte’s clever backheel played Fernandes through on goal and he stroked home with ease.
Noussair Mazraoui crashed a shot off the crossbar from distance as United almost grabbed a fourth before the break.
Norwegian referee Espen Eskas and his colleagues were barracked by the home fans, seeing their aspirations to glory evaporate before their eyes.
They were further enraged, waving anything white to show their disgust, when Maroan Sannadi tumbled under pressure from Maguire as he ran towards goal but no foul was awarded.
United largely controlled the game in the second half but they could not add a fourth despite probing.
The second leg takes place next Thursday at Old Trafford, ahead of the final on May 21 against Tottenham or Bodo/Glimt.
“At the slightest contact (Hojlund) let himself fall and the bad luck is that the penalty was given,” said Inaki Williams.
“We weren’t particularly great, so we shouldn’t make excuses — we’re three goals down but we’re capable of mounting a comeback.” (AFP)
What you should know
Bruno Fernandes’ brace and Casemiro’s opener gave Manchester United a crucial first-leg win in the Europa League semi-finals, as they edge closer to a potential final on Spanish soil.
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