Manchester United 6-2 AS Roma
Manchester United took control of their Europa League semifinal against Roma on Thursday night, coming from behind to win 6-2.
Man of the match Bruno Fernandes and Edinson Cavani both scored twice as the Red Devils ran amok in the second half after being 2-1 down at the break.
This competition represents Roma’s only chance to qualify for the 2021/22 Champions League , but the latest Europa League 2021 betting odds don’t hold out any hope of them making a first European final in 30 years.
The Europa League 2021 news results tonight turned out to be a mixed bag for the English teams as Arsenal went down 2-1 to Villarreal.
Highlights of the game
The Red Devils got off to the perfect start and it was no surprise that talisman and Europa League specialist Bruno Fernandes was the man on the spot to open the scoring.
It was a brilliant goal as Paul Pogba drove through midfield and passed to Edinson Cavani, who played a lovely through ball into the path of Fernandes and he beat the advancing Pau Lopez with a delightful chip.
But the lead lasted just until the 15th minute. Pogba blocked a cross but the ball hit his arm and the referee pointed to the spot and Lorenzo Pellegrini powered the penalty kick past David De Gea and into the net.
And before the break, the Italians went ahead with an impressive team goal. Former Red Devil Henrikh Mkhitaryan slid the ball into the path of the overlapping Pellegrini, who squared to Dzeko and he had the easiest of tap-ins.
Roma went into the break ahead but they had lost three players in the process as Jordan Veretout, keeper Lopez, and Leonardo Spinazzola all replaced.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s halftime talk must have been a good one because the Red Devils levelled two minutes into the second period. Fernandes played a great ball through to Cavani and the Uruguayan striker fired an unstoppable shot into the top corner.
United began to up the ante and put the Roma goal under huge pressure and the Italian resistance was broken again by Cavani, when sub keeper Antonio Mirante parried a shot from Aaron Wan-Bissaka right into his path and he gleefully accepted the gift.
Roma almost equalised immediately, but De Gea made a brilliant save to deny Dzeko.
The Red Devils took advantage as they were awarded a penalty when Chris Smalling fouled Cavani. Fernandes fired the spot-kick into the top corner to put the Red Devils in charge.
And Paul Pogba made it five with another great goal on 75 minutes. Fernandes provided the assist again with a perfect cross for the Frenchman to head home.
Roma’s punishment was complete when Mason Greenwood rounded off a Manchester United break to make it 6-2.
Key statistics
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has lost his last four semifinals as Manchester United manager so he’s about to break an unwanted sequence.
The Red Devils have had a brilliant second half of the season, suffering just one defeat in the last 22 outings. They are also unbeaten in their last 11 at home, winning five on the bounce.
Roma were stunned in the second half and are now on a winless streak of five games.
Bruno Fernandes has had 32 goal involvements in 31 Europa League games, scoring an incredible record of 18 goals and making 14 assists.
Paul Pogba has been responsible for three of the last four penalties conceded by Manchester United, while former Manchester City star Dzeko scored his sixth goal at Old Trafford.
What’s next?
The Red Devils came into this game on the back of a 0-0 draw with Leeds United and they are back in Premier League action in the clash of the weekend when they meet Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon.
And you can get all the latest news, odds, and tips here at SBOTOP as well as the match report at the final whistle.
Manchester United could confirm their place in next season’s Champions League with a win, and the added bonus for their fans would be that they can seriously damage Liverpool’s top four hopes.
The 2020 champions are currently are in sixth place and four points behind Chelsea, who occupy that fourth spot. Thomas Tuchel’s Blues are at home to Fulham on Saturday and could stretch that lead to seven points with the games fast running out.
Over in Serie A, Roma’s chances of a top four place have long gone and their best hope is to catch city rivals Lazio who occupy sixth place and are six points clear of the Giallorossi.
Paulo Fonseca’s team is away to Sampdoria on Sunday and that won’t be an easy ride against the side currently in ninth.
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