Two more goals from Edinson Cavani confirmed Manchester United’s passage to the Europa League final – though Roma worked hard for their win in the second leg, contributing richly to a hugely entertaining tie that yielded 13 goals over 180 minutes.
Though the tie was effectively settled in the first leg won by United 6-2, Roma started the second leg really well and forced David de Gea into a succession of smart saves.
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But the suspicion remained that United had too much class, and sure enough they took the lead on the night when, following a couple of decent chances missed, Cavani finished emphatically following good work from Paul Pogba, Bruno Fernandes and Fred.
At the start of the second half, a game and dangerous Roma created a succession of chances, De Gea making several witting and unwitting saves.
Eventually, though, Edin Dzeko and Bryan Cristante beat him and for a few manic minutes, things looked tight.
But then another brilliant ball from Fernandes incited another brilliant finish from Cavani, this time a header, and both sides acknowledged the end of the contest, dropping the pace.
But they still continued to attack, and on 83 minutes Nicola Zalewski’s volley went in off Alex Telles, giving Roma the consolation of a home win.
Arsenal vs Villarreal
Arsenal failed to make an all-English Europa League final as they were held to a goalless draw at the Emirates that sees Villarreal go through 2-1 on aggregate.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hit the post in both halves but in truth Arsenal did not create enough to feel too hard done by at missing out on their last chance of Champion’s League qualification.
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Villarreal were mostly happy to wait for the Gunners to put them under pressure but created a few chances themselves, particularly when Gerard Moreno made space for himself in the box before directing a tame effort saved comfortably by Bernd Leno.
Frustratingly for Arsenal they came up against a goalkeeper in Geronimo Rulli who looked vulnerable throughout, almost letting in a howler from another Aubameyang effort, but did not put him under enough sustained pressure.
When Is The Europa League Final
This season’s UEFA Europa League final will be played in in Gdansk, Poland with over 9,500 fans expected to attend.
The final will be played on 26th May, 2021 as Manchester United face Spanish side, Villarreal.
The Red Devils will fancy themselves to win their first trophy under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and their first under anyone in five seasons.
The sides have met four times before, achieving four goalless draws.
Source: Ghanaarticles.com/Eurosport