Manchester United were beaten 2-1 by Sevilla in the semi-final of the UEFA Europa League. United took the lead in the game after Marcus Rashford won a penalty which Bruno Fernandes scored. Sevilla equalised through Suso 17 minutes later. United looked lively at times but poor finishing cost them after they had many attacking chances on the bounce at the start of the second half, then looked tired. Luuk de Jong scored what turned into the winner in the 78th minute with United running empty.
United started well on the attack, aiming to find an early goal. In the seventh minute of the match United won a penalty after Anthony Martial flicked the ball further into the box with Marcus Rashford running through and his shot being saved. However, an off the ball foul on Rashford happened with a penalty being awarded, United’s 22nd of the season, Bruno Fernandes took the spot kick, putting United 1-0 up in the ninth minute of the match, scoring his 12th goal for the club this season.
In the 26th minute of the match, Sevilla equalised through Suso which had been coming with both teams attacking fluidly throughout the match so far. Lucas Ocampos slipped a great pass into Sergio Reguilon with Aaron Wan-Bissaka a yard behind with the ball being played to Suso who waiting to tap home at the near post. It was an unfortunate goal for United and they were going to need to do a lot more the get the win in this game, with a place in the final up for grabs.
It was 1-1 at the break with United still trying to find the goal to put them in the lead again. Rashford was lively for the reminder of the half but Sevilla were countering everything that United did, trying to fins the goal to put them ahead in the game also. Solskjaer would need to look at his tactics going into the break to try and find a way for United to nullify certain players for Sevilla which could be the key to winning the game. United have seemingly done everything right so far.
From the very start of the second half, United were the team going to try and take the match by the scruff of the neck, searching for that goal to put them ahead once again. The Sevilla goalkeeper, Yassine Bounou was impressive in stoping United from taking the lead for the second time in the match. United had more of the attacking in the first ten minutes of the half. The match the. started to level with end to end football. Rashford was booked for dissent in the 66th minute of the match.
Luuk de Jong took the lead for Sevilla in the 78th minute of the match with United’s defence sleeping and Victor Lindelof running towards the ball, stopping then seemingly blaming Fernandes. In the 87th minute, Solskjaer made a triple substitution with Tim Fosu-Mensah, Daniel James and Juan Mata replacing Brandon Williams, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Rashford. Six minutes of added time was to be played at the end of the match with United running out of time to find an equaliser. United were beaten and their season, which started a year ago, is now over.
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Goals: Suso 26′, Luuk de Jong 78′; Bruno Fernandes 9′ (penalty)
Assists: Sergio Reguilon 26′, Jesus Navas 78′
Manchester United: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka (James 87′), Lindelof, Maguire, Williams (Fosu-Mensah 87′); Fred; Greenwood (Ighalo 90+3′), Fernandes, Pogba, Rashford (Mata 87′); Martial
Substitutes Not Used: Romero, Grant; Bailly, Mengi; Lingard, Pereira, Matic, McTominay
Bookings: Diego Santos Silva 21′, Munir 86′; Brandon Williams 17′, Marcus Rashford 66′, Harry Maguire 86′
Written by John Walker
