FOOTBALL – Manchester United booked their berth in the Europa League final after a 4-1 semi-final win over Athletic Bilbao last night, with Mason Mount scoring twice to hand the hosts a 7-1 aggregate win and a chance for the beleaguered team to hoist some silverware this season.
United, the Europa League champions in 2017, will play Tottenham Hotspur in an all-Premier League final on May 21 at Bilbao’s San Mames Stadium.
Tottenham avoided any mishaps in the Arctic Circle by easing into the final with a composed 2-0 win at Norway’s Bodo/Glimt for a 5-1 aggregate victory.
United, who are languishing in 15th place in the Premier League, kicked off the night with a comfortable cushion thanks to their stunning 3-0 victory a week earlier in Bilbao.
But Mikel Jauregizar put Athletic on the score sheet in the 31st minute after a terrible clearance attempt by Harry Maguire landed at the Spaniard’s feet and he unleashed a blistering shot from outside the box into the top corner.
Mount drew United level in the 72nd minute, latching onto a pass from Leny Yoro before turning and firing past goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala. Casemiro headed home from a free kick seven minutes later, and Rasmus Hojlund put the game out of reach in the 85th when Amad Diallo cut the ball back from the byline into the six-yard box and the Dane tapped into an empty net.
Mount completed his double in added time when he spotted Agirrezabala well out of his net and fired a shot from just inside the visitors’ half.
Meanwhile, Tottenham never looked like relinquishing the lead they established last week in north London and goals by Dominic Solanke and Pedro Porro midway through the second half snuffed out any hope of a Bodo/Glimt comeback.
Despite a woeful Premier League campaign, Tottenham will now have the opportunity to win their first trophy since 2008 when they face their English rivals Manchester United in Bilbao on May 21.
Solanke, who also scored in the first leg, scrambled in a Cristian Romero header in the 63rd minute and Porro then deceived home keeper Nikita Haikin with a cross that looped in to spark celebrations from the few hundred away fans.
Bodo dominated possession in the first half but Ole Blomberg’s volley into the side netting was about the closest the hosts came to scoring on a disappointing night.
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