Bruno Fernandes converts penalty in extra time to help Man Utd edge out Copenhagen 1-0 to seal semi-final spot
Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes scores from the penalty spot against Copenhagen during their UEFA Europa League quarter-final in Cologne, Germany, on Monday. pic/Getty Images
Bruno Fernandes scored a penalty in extra time as Manchester United scraped past FC Copenhagen 1-0 on Monday in the quarter-finals of the Europa League, reshaped into an eight-team straight knockout tournament in Germany due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Portugal international notched his competition-best seventh goal of the season as United set up a semi-final clash against Sevilla or Wolves.
ADVERTISEMENT
Solskjaer happy
"Third time this season we've been to the semis, every competition we've been in. Delighted we've gone through, we deserved to win tonight," United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said. "Their keeper was fantastic, unbelievable. We hit the post a few times, there were a couple of VAR decisions against us. It could have been one of those nights that you end up with penalty shoot outs. They made it hard for us." All games from the quarter-finals onwards in this season's Europa League are being played behind closed doors as one-off ties across four venues—Cologne, Duisburg, Dusseldorf and Gelsenkirchen—in a unique format following a five-month interruption.
Early struggles
Solskjaer recalled Fernandes, Paul Pogba, Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood and Anthony Martial but the 2017 competition winners struggled early, and Copenhagen forward Mohamed Daramy, 18, was twice involved as the Danish underdogs threatened a creaking United backline.
Eric Bailly intervened just as Daramy attempted to stab home a cross, and the Ivorian defender was then played into trouble by Fred with Jens Stage's effort blocked. Rashford finally tested Karl-Johan Johnsson just before the interval with a long-range shot—the first of a multitude of saves for Copenhagen's goalkeeper.
Greenwood looked to have put United ahead later only for the teenager to be ruled offside following a VAR review.
Catch up on all the latest sports news and updates here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates.
Mid-Day is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@middayinfomedialtd) and stay updated with the latest news
This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
