Manchester : Manchester United came from behind to completely humble AS Roma in a 6-2 win in the teams’ Europa League semifinal first leg at Old Trafford on Friday (April 30).
Both the sides traded early goals in the first half, with Bruno Fernandes opening the score for the hosts on 9 minutes before Lorenzo Pellegrini converted his spot kick for Roma on 15 minutes due to a hand ball in the area by Paul Pogba.
Pellegrini then set up Edin Dzeko who Roma in front, the former Manchester City striker poked home from close range after some tidy buildup play as the Serie A side took a one-goal lead into the dressing room.
What a second half. What a team.
Halfway there, boys 👊
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) April 29, 2021
Cavani then scored his brace and also put United in the lead just past 60 minutes as pounced on a rebound from Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s saved effort and poked the ball into the net, the score line stood 3-2 in favour of the hosts.
Former Man United player Chris Smalling conceded a penalty as he fouled Cavani shortly after the hosts took the lead and Bruno with no mistake from his kick spotkick doubled his team’s lead.
Pogba’s header following a corner kick extended Man United’s lead to three goals on 75 minutes, which effectively killed off the tie unless something unbelievable in the second leg in Rome. However, substitute Mason Greenwood put the tie further in a improbable position for Roma with a classy finish shortly before full-time to add further gloss to an impressive 6-2 score line for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team.
“I don’t feel the job is done. We did a good job and did well but we know they have quality,” said the Norwegian.
“We took most of our chances today, so we’re very pleased with that. The character showed – we came back, we didn’t lose our heads. For five, 10 minutes at the end of the first half we didn’t look great, but we got it together.”
“It’s difficult to explain how the same team that did so well in the first half had that kind of second half. It’s hard to play against a side like United without having the substitutions,” Fonseca said.
“It’s positive to reach this stage of the competition anyway, and also to play like we did in the first half. But in the second half we got everything wrong.”
United would face the winners of the other semifinal between Villarreal and Arsenal. The Spanish side won Thursday’s first leg in Spain 2-1.
