Manchester United boss credits star players Rashford, Pogba, Cavani and Bruno Fernandes for dominant 6-2 victory over Roma in semi-final first leg
Man Utd’s Edinson Cavani celebrates his second goal against Roma at Old Trafford. Pics/AFP, Getty Images
Bruno Fernandes and Edinson Cavani each scored twice as Manchester United thrashed an injury-hit Roma 6-2 at Old Trafford to close in on the Europa League final. United are aiming to get to a final under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at the fifth time of asking after four semi-final defeats in the past two seasons. But only a second leg collapse will prevent them from facing Villarreal or Arsenal in Gdansk on May 26 after a stunning second-half performance.
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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
The home side trailed at the break as Lorenzo Pellegrini’s penalty and Edin Dzeko’s tap-in cancelled out Fernandes’s early opener. But the Italians lost three players to injury before the break and United took full advantage. Two predatory finishes from Cavani turned the tie around before Fernandes also fired home from the spot.
Back in 1964
Paul Pogba and Mason Greenwood rounded off the scoring as United became the first team to score six goals in a European semi-final since Real Madrid in 1964. “Very pleased with the response,” said Solskjaer. “Second half we were very good.” With United realistically out of the Premier League title race, but also almost certain to secure a Top-four finish, Solskjaer named his strongest available side as he aims to end a four-year trophy drought for the Red Devils. The combination play between Pogba, Fernandes and Cavani consistently cut the Roma defence apart as they only marginally avoided a repeat of the 7-1 hammering they suffered at Old Trafford in the 2006-07 Champions League quarter-finals.
Bruno Fernandes is ecstatic after scoring United’s opening goal
‘Took most of our chances’
“We know we’ve got creative players, players who can create big chances, score goals, it’s about getting them in the positions,” added Solskjaer.
“Marcus [Rashford], Bruno, Paul, Edinson are all capable. The difference today is we took most of our chances.”
In contrast to the vast majority of games this season, United came flying out the blocks and led after just nine minutes. Pogba and Cavani teed up Fernandes, who dinked the ball over the advancing Pau Lopez for his 25th goal of the season.
Sitting seventh in Serie A, this competition represented Roma’s last realistic chance to qualify for the Champions League next season and they reacted like a side whose season depended on it.
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