AS Roma 3, Man Utd 2 (Europa League Semi Final 2nd Leg; Man Utd win 8-5 on aggregate)
Edinson Cavani struck twice to put Manchester United through to the final of the Europa League at the expense of AS Roma who won on the night.
Embed from Getty ImagesIt was the first major final for United boss for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer who had previously failed at the semi final stage in his previous four attempts.
Even though United had a 6-2 lead from the first leg their Italian hosts might have pulled off a miracle comeback but for David De Gea who produced several top class saved to stop Roma from producing a massive upset on the night – they had to settle for goals by Edin Dzeko, Bryan Cristante, and Nicola Zalewski to beat the Reds 3-2 instead.
Roma were playing to impress incoming manager Jose Mourinho next season and had enough shots on target to win the tie outright but for some inspired and occasionally fortunate saves by De Gea who had to face 13 shots on target from Roma’s 22 in all.
It was faintly embarrassing for the Reds who only created 5 shots on target from 13 shots on goal as they became only the second club in Europe’s second tier competition to score 8+ goals cross both legs of a semi final – after Alaves scored 9 against 1. FC Kaiserslautern in 2000/01.
United captain Harry Maguire was relieved to be through to the final of the Europa League and was in no doubt as to who to credit for United qualifying for the final in Gdansk.
”Edinson [Cavani] scored two great goals – his movement and work rate without the ball was excellent and we’re always going to have chances with him.”
He added: “As a central defender I’m not too pleased that David De Gea has had so much to do but credit to him for making the saves.”
His manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, was glad to be in his first final with United but was unimpressed by the fixture pile-up that the Reds had ahead of them.
“We played one very good half at Old Trafford which brought us through [to the final].
“We’re disappointed to lose here, especially in the way we did it but it was always going to be an open game – it could have been 8-6 to them.
“We kept giving them the ball, losing it in difficult position.
“Luckily we have one of the best keepers in the world [De Gea] and one of the best strikers in the world [Cavani].
“It was a team effort tonight, the result was disappointing but we are in the final and we’re looking forward to the 26th of May – anything can happen but we will prepare well for Villarreal.
One thing that might have been more frustrating for Solskjaer is the fixture congestion – with the Reds facing 4 games in a week.
Had United not been reasonably assured of Champions League football the Norwegian would have been more angry than frustrated on the night after commenting on the rescheduled Premier League fixture list.
United had no game at the weekend but the Norwegian persisted in naming a very strong side despite having to play four games in a week after the Liverpool game was postponed by protests last week.
United’s four game epic schedule started in Rome tonight, before they travel to Aston Villa on Sunday, and then host Leicester City on Tuesday and Liverpool on Thursday.
Solskjaer could barely contain his anger and said: “It’s unheard of.
“It’s [a decision] made by people who have never played football at this level.
“It’s physically impossible. We have not been dealt a good hand. We will have to deal with it as best we can.
“We will need everyone in these four games and we’ll see how everyone is on Sunday – that’s just how it is.”
No chances taken as Manchester United name strong team but lose to AS Roma on the night
Although they had an almost unassailable first leg lead Solskjaer was taking no chances in Italy and he was vindicated as Roma put United to the test but couldn’t stop the Reds from qualifying for their 8th major European final – Liverpool are the only other English team to have reached more (14).
Eric Bailly, Donny van de Beek, and Mason Greenwood came into the side to replace Victor Lindelof, Scott McTominay, and Marcus Rashford.
Roma had two great early chance with Henrikh Mkhitaryan heading wide after Gianluca Mancini had an effort saved by David de Gea.
Lorenzo Pellegrini and Pedro were wayward in the early minutes as the Italians initially tried to get on the scoresheet early.
United were happy to sit back and try and soak up the pressure from Roma, indeed Edinson Cavani lobbed the ball onto the roof of the net and also forced a fine save from Antonio Mirante when he tried to power the ball past him.
The home side lost Chris Smalling to injury after 30 minutes and replaced him with midfielder teenager Ebrima Darboe who was making his European debut.
Dzeko crossed for Mkhitaryan for a header that went wide but was deemed offside anyway.
The Bosnian also saw his shot blocked with Pellegrini’s follow-up shot saved – the Italian also saw another shot by the Italian saved from a Mkhitaryan free kick.
But the game was well and truly up for Roma when Fred released Cavani to smash United into the lead after 39 minutes for his 6th goal in as many games for the Reds and his 13th goal of the season.
Greenwood rolled a shot wide of the back post while Mkhitaryan had a shot saved by De Gea.
It was party time for United and Fernandes could have had a spectacular goal when he tried a deft scorpion kick on Greenwood’s cross but failed to connect.
Fernandes also whipped a shot wide just before the break with the Reds firmly in cruise control.
Alex Telles and Brandon Williams came on for Luke Shaw and Aaron Wan-Bissaka at half time as players started getting rested.
Harry Maguire had an accidental handball checked for a spot kick but the referee wasn’t interested.
Roma got their equaliser when Pedro’s cross bounced off the ground and was nodded in by Edin Dzeko who bagged his 9th goal against the Reds in the 57th minute after Mkhitaryan’s cross found the Spaniard.
And Bryan Cristante turned and shot past De Gea after Pellegrini laid the ball off him after robbing Fred on the hour mark.
Pedro gave United a real scare seconds later when De Gea saved from point blank from the winger and then luckily blocked another shot from Mkhitaryan with his legs.
Paul Pogba was immediately withdrawn after 64 minutes for Nemanja Matic as United tried to shut up shop.
Fernandes drew a save from Mirante while Mason Greenwood shot wide as the game continued to defy logic.
But Cavani levelled the scores again after Fernandes lifted the ball over the defence for the United striker to head past with 22 minutes to go.
And the Uruguayan was taken off shortly after that as tempers frayed with a confrontation between him and Rck Karsdorp.
Mkhitaryan hit the post with a shot that took a mild deflection and Dzeko headed over the bar from a Pedro cross as United failed to deal with balls into the box.
Sensing the game was up, Dzeko and and Pedro were withdrawn with 13 minutes to go for Borja Mayoral and Nicola Zalewski.
And Zalewski’s shot took a wicked deflection off Alex Telles to beat De Gea to at least put the Italians into a deserved lead for the night.
Juan Mata replaced Fernandes for the last few minutes as the Reds limped over the finishing line and Marcus Rashford at least called Mirante into action to save a tame shot as well as blazing over right at the end.
GOALS – AS Roma 3, Man Utd 2 (Europa League Semi Final 2nd Leg; Man Utd win 8-5 on aggregate)
AS Roma 0, Man Utd 1: 39. Bruno Fernandes released Fred who found Edinson Cavani in space and the Uruguayan did the rest with a thunderous shot which beat Antonio Mirante.
AS Roma 1, Man Utd 1: 57. Edin Dzeko nodded past David De Gea after Pedro put a half volleyed cross back into the area.
AS Roma 2, Man Utd 1: 60. Bryan Cristante turned and shot past David De Gea after Lorenzo Pellegrini robbed Fred and put him clean through.
AS Roma 2, Man Utd 2: 68. Edinson Cavani found himself in acres of space and headed home Bruno Fernandes’ cross into the box.
AS Roma 3, Man Utd 2: 83. Nicola Zalewski’s close range shot took a deflection off Alex Telles to beat David De Gea
MATCH STATS – AS Roma 3, Man Utd 2 (Europa League Semi Final 2nd Leg; Man Utd win 8-5 on aggregate)
AS Roma: Mirante, Karsdorp, Smalling (Darboe 30), Ibanez, Peres (Santon 69), Cristante, Mancini, Pedro (Zalewski 77), Pellegrini (C), Mkhitaryan, Dzeko (Mayoral 77)
AS Roma subs not used: Fuzate, Kumbulla, Bove, Ciervo, Boer
Booking: Karsdorp 72 (unsporting behaviour); Cristante 84 (foul on Alex Telles)
Goals: Dzeko 57; Cristante 60; Zalewski 83
Man Utd: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka (Williams 46), Bailly, Maguire (C), Shaw (Telles 46), van de Beek, Fred, Greenwood, Fernandes (Mata 84), Pogba (Matic 64), Cavani (Rashford 73)
Man Utd subs not used: Henderson, Grant, Lindelof, Diallo, Tuanzebe, McTominay, Elanga
Bookings: Wan-Bissaka 18 (foul on Bruno Peres); Fred 58 (foul on Ebrima Darboe); Cavani 72 (unsporting behaviour); Williams 90+2 (foul on Roger Ibanez)
Goals: Cavani 39, 68
Referee: Dr Felix Brych