Sevilla edge United to book themselves a place in the Europa League final: Europa League semi-final Match Report

 Europa League Semi-Final Match Report: Manchester United vs Sevilla

Another English team to leave a European competition feeling frustrated and hard done by, as defensive errors, and poor finishing, haunt them as the main reasons for their exit. A shock defeat for Manchester United sees them leave the Europa League empty handed after losing to Sevilla 2-1 on a steaming hot night in Lisbon. The heat didn’t get to United as they proceeded turned it up, as a fiery start from the Red Devils sees them win a penalty within the opening stags of the match. Rashford gives and receives the ball from Antony Martial, taking him into the penalty area, where he finds his shot, which is saved by the keeper, but a late reckless challenge from centre half, Diego Carlos, sees United win a penalty, as Carlos takes Rashford instead of the ball. Bruno Fernandes does his signature jumping run up before firing the ball beyond the keeper and into the roof of the net putting United 1-0 up in the 5th minute of the fixture.

The game seemed to open up, with end to end football on show, as Sevilla grow into the fixture and start testing De Gea in the United net. The left hand side, where full back Sergio Reguilón was playing, was the side Sevilla seemed to be having the most success down, and this served to be true as Reguilón makes a surging run, taking the ball into the left hand side of the United penalty box, and drills a curled pass towards the back post where Suso was position who smashed the ball front post, beating the keeper, and drawing the match 1-1 in the 32^nd minute. Poor defending from a United point of view as 19 year old full back, Brandon Williams, failed to pick up on Suso at the back post which lead the goal that could have so easily been prevented. The remainder of the first half was thrilling to say the least as both teams were looking for the goal to take them into the lead before the first half ended. The first half ended all square at 1-1.

The second half sees another fiery start from United as they leave the Sevilla back line on edge within the first 5 minutes of the second half. Last ditch lunging blocks, goal line clearances and Sevilla keeper, Yassine Bounou, being called into action manier times keeps Sevilla from conceding as United rain shots at Sevilla’s goal. United continued to carve open Sevilla’s back line until the 55^th minute when two substitutes, Munir and Luuk De Jong, enter the field and prove their worth for being brought on. A rare counter attack down the right hand side for the Spanish side, lead by Munir, sees him drop his shoulder and skim past a tired Brandon Williams, who then puts a Dangerous looping cross into the United penalty area which De Jong gets hold of and fires beyond De Gea from close quarters putting Sevilla 2-1 up in the 78^th minute.

United look lost as they push for the equaliser that doesn’t come their way, throwing the kitchen sink at the Sevilla goal trying to create some luck for them to score a late equaliser. United totalling twenty shots on goal compared to Sevilla’s nine; but it wasn’t enough to send them through to the final. It’s the second time Sevilla have beaten United in a Europa league knockout stage with a 78^th minute winner. The referee blows the final whistle after 6 minutes of added time, which sees Sevilla win the fixture, and takes them to the Europa League final where they will either play Inter or Shakhtar Donetsk.