Manchester United will face Tottenham in an all-or-nothing Europa League final after substitute Mason Mount’s magical brace helped secure a 4-1 comeback win against battling Athletic Bilbao.
Last week’s fantastic 3-0 semi-final first-leg win at San Mames put the Red Devils within touching distance of a return to Bilbao for the May 21 showpiece, but Ruben Amorim’s side rarely do things the easy way.
Mikel Jauregizar’s 25-yard strike gave Athletic a deserved lead as United stumbled out of the blocks at Old Trafford, capitalising on an error by quarter-final hero Harry Maguire in spectacular fashion.
The Old Trafford faithful stuck with their stuttering side and Mount’s excellent turn and strike punctured growing tension, with Casemiro’s header and a close-range Rasmus Hojlund effort completing the turnaround.
And Mount scored a glorious second from long range in stoppage time, with goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala well out of position, wrapping up a 4-1 victory and 7-1 aggregate triumph.
Amorim made eight changes on Thursday as he returned to the side that stunned San Mames, where Athletic had gone close on several occasions during a roaring start.
Alex Berenguer was among those to threaten and did so again at Old Trafford, curling over inside nine minutes and later capitalising on poor play to canter forward from his own half and hit a low 20-yard strike narrowly wide.
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Half-time brought respite for United but no change in fortunes as Athletic continued with the bit between their teeth.
The hosts had to dig deep to a backdrop of support from their fans as Valverde’s visitors continued to knock on the door, with Aingeru Olabarrieta slamming a low strike wide.
Skipper Bruno Fernandes tried to lift his tired team-mates and Amorim turned to his bench to change the dynamics.
Mount was among those introduced and made his mark in the 72nd minute by turning sharply in the area when receiving a pass from Yoro and bending his shot home brilliantly.
Fernandes sent over a free-kick and Casemiro smartly directed home a header at the near post.
Another United goal followed in the 85th minute as lively substitute Amad Diallo’s low ball was turned in from three years by Hojlund.
Goalkeeper Agirrezabala found himself stranded wide on the right when Mount controlled his poor pass and the United man took full advantage by drilling home from just inside Athletic’s half to the delight of Amorim and the Old Trafford faithful.
