Manchester United boss Ruben thrilled as club rides Bruno Fernandes’s brace to thrash 10-man Athletic Bilbao 3-0 in semi-final first leg
Man Utd’s Bruno Fernandes celebrates his first goal vs Athletic Bilbao on Thursday. Pic/Getty Images
Bruno Fernandes struck twice as Manchester United put one foot in the Europa League final with a clinical first leg performance to beat 10-man Athletic Bilbao 3-0 on Thursday.
Casemiro opened the scoring for the Red Devils in the 30th minute after Harry Maguire’s enterprising run down the right flank.
Five minutes later, Athletic defender Daniel Vivian was sent off for pulling back Rasmus Hojlund. Fernandes duly stepped up to the spot and slotted away the penalty to put his team two goals to the good.
Ruben Amorim
Fernandes then put the icing on the cake in the 45th minute, scoring from 10-yards out after taking Manuel Ugarte’s flicked the ball into his stride.
“I think it’s the best result [of my tenure] because nobody expected this result,” said United coach Ruben Amorim.
Despite the scoreline, United started the game on the back foot. Alex Berenguer forced a smart low save from United goalkeeper Andre Onana before Inaki Williams headed narrowly over. Victor Lindelof then made a vital block to thwart Berenguer, as the visitors just about managed to hang on.
Bilbao’s Inaki made no excuses for their performance. “We weren’t particularly great, so we shouldn’t make excuses. We’re three goals down but we’re capable of mounting a comeback,” he said.
Languishing in 14th spot in the English Premier League, Champions League qualification for United is only possible with a Europa League triumph.
27
No. of goals scored by Bruno Fernandes in Europa League; third-highest ever
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