Manchester United 4, Athletic Club 1 (Europa League Semi Final, Manchester United win 7-1 on aggregate)
Mason Mount scored from the half way line as Manchester United booked their place in the Europa League final with late goals.
Mount’s double strike confirmed the Reds would be going back to Bilbao after rubber-stamping their win with a fantastic strike from half way by the injury hit midfielder.
Fans could be forgiven for thinking United were going to have trouble going through to the final of the Europa League despite being 3-0 up from the first leg.
Their visitors were also without 5 of their best players but Athletic Club took the lead after 31 minutes after Mikel Jaureguizar smashed in the opening goal.
The Reds were shockingly poor again for 70 minutes but it took late goals by Mount, Casemiro, Rasmus Hojlund and the injury time stunner from Mount again to send the Reds back to Spain in style as their unbeaten record in this season’s Europa League stretched to 14 games.
Embed from Getty ImagesPLAYER RATINGS – Manchester United 4, Athletic Club 1 (Europa League Semi Final, Manchester United win 7-1 on aggregate)
Andre Onana: 6. Could have done better with the long range Mikel Jaureguizar goal.
Victor Lindelof: 6. Unspectacular at the back. Nasty tackle on Prados.
Harry Maguire: 6. Poor clearance led to the Athletic opening goal. Last ditch defending saved some blushes in the second half as the visitors pressed for a second goal.
Leny Yoro: 8. Very steady defending and a cool assist for Mason Mount. Growing into his role.
Noussair Mazraoui: 7. Reliable presence at the back as well as pushing up but couldn’t last the game.
Casemiro: 8. Slower pace of game suited him well. Headed a fine goal to put United into the lead.
Manuel Ugarte: 6. Didn’t have much of an effect on the midfield.
Patrick Dorgu: 7. Pushed up enthusiastically. Tried to win a penalty and had a shot blocked. Great pass to put Alejandro Garnacho clean through.
Alejandro Garnacho: 6. Pace troubled the Athletic defence. Clean through after 43 minutes but his chip of the keeper went wide.
Bruno Fernandes: 7. Tired looking performance earlier but won the set piece and sent in the free kick for Casemiro that put the tie to bed.
Rasmus Hojlund: 7. Still hesitant in front of goal but chances few until Amad laid one on a plate for him.
Amad Diallo (on for Alejandro Garnacho, 62): 7. Offered the same threat going forward. Started the move that ended with the goal.
Luke Shaw (on for Noussair Mazraoui, 62): 6. Raided down the left flank to reinvigorate it.
Mason Mount (on for Manuel Ugarte, 62): 9. Stability and control in the midfield and popped up with a rare goal to the relief of Old Trafford. Great skill to release Amass late in the game and his second goal was an all time classic.
Harry Amass (on for Victor Lindelof, 81): No time to mark
Kobbie Mainoo (on for Casemiro, 81): No time to mark.
GOALS – Manchester United 4, Athletic Club 1 (Europa League Semi Final, Manchester United win 7-1 on aggregate)
Man Utd 0, Athletic Club 1: 31. Poor clearance by Harry Maguire seized by Alvaro Djalo whose shot was blocked by Leny Yoro but Mikel Jaureguizar smashed in the rebound from 27 yards out. Andre Onana got both hands to it but couldn’t keep it out of the top corner.
Man Utd 1, Athletic Club 1: 72. Mason Mount turned and fired in the equaliser from 15 yards out after Leny Yoro played him in at the end of a smooth passing move by the Reds started by Amad Diallo.
Man Utd 2, Athletic Club 1: 80: Casemiro with stooping header from 6 yards out to meet Bruno Fernandes’ free kick puts the tie to bed.
Man Utd 3, Athletic Club 1: 85. Amad Diallo put in a cutback from the right touchline and it was perfect for Rasmus Hojlund who could not miss from 3 yards out.
Man Utd 4, Athletic Club 1: 90+1. Mason Mount was gifted the ball by Julen Agirrezabala – the Athletic Club goalkeeper was shocked to see Mount return it with interest from 45 yards out straight into the empty net to put the cherry on the cake.
MATCH STATS – Manchester United 4, Athletic Club 1 (Europa League Semi Final, Manchester United win 7-1 on aggregate)
Man Utd: Onana, Lindelof (Amass 81), Maguire, Yoro, Mazraoui (Shaw 62), Casemiro (Mainoo 81), Ugarte (Mount 62), Dorgu, Garnacho (Diallo 62), Fernandes (C), Hojlund
Man Utd Subs not used: Bayindir, Heaton, Eriksen, Fredricson, Kamason, Mantato
Booked: Mazraoui 25 (foul); Casemiro 59 (foul on Alvaro Djalo); Dorgu 90+1 (foul on Yuri Berchiche)
Goals: Mount 72, 90+1; Casemiro 80; Hojlund 85
Athletic Club: Agirrezabala, Gorosabel (de Marcos 61), Alvarez (C), Nunez, Berchiche, De Galarreta (Prados 61, Vesga 67), Jaureguizar, Djalo (Olabarrieta 61), Gomez (Guruzeta 67), Berenguer, Sannadi
Athletic Club Subs not used: Simon, Paredes, Lekue, Canales, Boiro, Rego, Varela
Booked: Jaureguizar 39 (foul on Manuel Ugarte); Nunez 78 (foul on Bruno Fernandes), Sannadi 89 (foul on Bruno Fernandes)
Goal: Jaureguizar 31
Referee: Daniel Siebert (Germany)
Attendance: 73,298