Manchester United produced the best performance of the Ruben Amorim era so far, hammering ten-man Spanish side Athletic Club 3-0 in the away of leg of their Europa League semi-final.
Athletic defender Dani Vivian was sent off via VAR in the 35th minute for denying Rasmus Hojlund a goal scoring opportunity in the box by pulling back the Dane by the shoulder.
The decision did not go down well with the locals in Bilbao, where the final of the competition will be played on May 21, but Bruno Fernandes kept a cool head to slot home a penalty, the first goal of his brace.
Watch The UEFA Women’s Champions League Final LIVE on Kayo Sports | Arsenal vs Barcelona Sunday 25 May 2am AEST | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.
Causing most of the outrage was the length of time it took the referee to award the penalty, roughly five minutes.
Writing for The Telegraph, former Premier League referee’s chief Keith Hackett, was shocked by how long it took to reach the decision.
“Espen Eskaas, the Norwegian referee, went to the screen and awarded a penalty kick and a red card for the Denial of an Obvious Goal Scoring Opportunity, which is the correct decision,” Hackett wrote.
“But it is difficult to understand why it took so long to come to the correct decision, and I have to blame Eskaas’ starting position for what was clearly a crucial moment.
“If the referee had achieved a better viewing angle he would have made an immediate decision as he would have been able to see a clear and obvious pull on Hojlund from the Athletic Bilbao defender Daniel Vivian.
“VAR was correct to intervene but the length of time it takes to make the decision, nearly six minutes since the incident took place, places doubt in the mind of fans.”
READ MORE
EUROPA RESULTS: Ange’s Spurs claim big Euro win
Casemiro opened the scoring on the half hour mark when it was still an 11-a-side contest after some excellent footwork from the hero of their quarter-final victory at Old Trafford, Harry Maguire, to set up the goal.
Maguire, who head home the 121st minute winner unmarked against a ten-man Lyon in the last round, delivered a near-post cross that Manuel Ugarte flicked on to Casemiro at the back post.
United fans were later pinching themselves when Fernandes chipped goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala to score the Red Devils third on the stroke of half time.
The home side, who sit fourth in La Liga, registered more shots, seven to six, in the opening half but the visitors controlled the game with 70 per cent possession.
The hosts have been dreaming of winning a first European trophy on their own soil but their hopes were demolished by United’s professional display in the north of Spain – and Athletic’s supporters argued, the refereeing.
Languishing in 14th in the Premier League, Champions League qualification for United is only possible with a Europa League triumph, as is access to the £100 million (AU$177 million) honeypot it entails.
Despite regularly crumbling under pressure this season, the Red Devils – who produced a stunning comeback against Lyon in the quarter-finals – first survived and then thrived in a hostile environment.
With May 1 a bank holiday in Spain the streets of Bilbao were filled with red-and-white striped shirts from the morning onwards, with thousands of fans turning up at their team’s hotel to see the Athletic bus set off for the stadium.
The San Mames was rocking, with fans raising red and white cards around the stadium ahead of the game to welcome the players, all of them born or raised in the Basque country, as per the club’s century-long policy.
“This is not the theatre of dreams, this is The Cathedral of football,” it read on the back, a reference to the stadium’s nickname.
— with AFP
Discussion about this post