Athletic v Man United LIVE: Bruno Fernandes inspires dramatic Europa League semi-final win
Manchester United thumped Athletic Club in a dramatic first half to put one foot in the Europa League final
Three first-half goals helped Manchester United put themselves on the cusp of the Europa League final on Thursday, with the Premier League side earning a 3-0 semi-final first leg win away at Athletic Bilbao.
In a raucous San Memes atmosphere, with supporters dreaming of a first-ever European trophy, veteran midfielder Casemiro arrived at the back post to give the visitors the lead 30 minutes in.
United, who are having a miserable season domestically, were given another boost five minutes later as Bilbao defender Daniel Vivian was sent off for fouling Rasmus Hojlund in the penalty area and Bruno Fernandes converted the resulting spot kick.
The United fans high in the top tier were in dreamland moments later as captain Fernandes raced through to put the seal on a victory, and perhaps even the tie, before the interval.
Bilbao, who have the added incentive that the final will be hosted at their own stadium on May 21, could not muster a response in the second half with depleted numbers, leaving United to coast to the most unlikely first-leg success.
Athletic Club 0-2 Manchester United
42 min: Ernesto Valverde makes two substitutions in reaction to the wild events of this first half. Captain De Marcos and the dangerous Berenguer are replaced by Gorosabel and Paredes.
'Extraordinary'
An extraordinary few minutes for United. Suddenly, they have one foot in the Europa League final. Although they were 2-0 up against Lyon. And they did play against 10 men in the Lyon game. Neither went quite according to plan.
GOAL! Athletic Club 0-2 Manchester United (Fernandes, 37 pen)
Bruno Fernandes steps up and calmly rolls the ball into the corner of the net after a familiar hop-run-up. Incredible composure inside a raucous, furious San Mames!
RED CARD! Dani Vivian (Athletic Club)
And Vivian is sent off! He was denying a goal-scoring opportunity without trying to play the ball, and so the rules state he must go. Wow.
Penalty to Manchester United!
What a couple of minutes for United. Mazraoui’s cross is heading for Hojlund in the six-yard box when the striker goes down under contact from his marker. The referee doesn’t notice it, but VAR does and it’s awarded after a pitch-side check!
GOAL! Athletic Club 0-1 Manchester United (Casemiro, 30)
What a goal this is! Harry Maguire is forward after a set-piece and he makes a brilliant run down the right wing, twisting back and forth before swinging in a dangerous cross. Ugarte flicks it on to the back post where Casemiro heads home powerfully, and United lead.
'Lindelof playing his part'
A word for Victor Lindelof, who probably would not be starting if any of Diogo Dalot, Matthijs de Ligt or Luke Shaw were fully fit but who has made a terrific goal-line clearance and started pretty well. Lindelof is likely to leave United this summer and at times it has seemed as if his time at Old Trafford was petering out. Not in a game like this, whatever happens.
Athletic Club 0-0 Manchester United
28 min: Hojlund flicks a header for Garnacho to run in behind, but the winger is offside.
Athletic Club 0-0 Manchester United
Some pictures from a helter-skelter first 25 minutes:
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