Manchester United vs Linz ASK. UEFA Europa League Round of 16.
Old Trafford.
7-1
Report as Manchester United reach a 26th European quarter-final; Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side just three games from silverware
Thursday 6 August 2020 07:19, UK
Manchester United came from behind to beat LASK 2-1 at Old Trafford as they sealed their spot in the Europa League quarter-finals with a 7-1 victory on aggregate.
Leading 5-0 from the first leg, which was played nearly five months earlier before the coronvairus pandemic halted the season, United were never in any danger, but it was the visitors who took the lead thanks to Philipp Wiesinger's stunning strike in the 55th minute.
However, United, who put in a lacklustre display for much of the game, hit back 93 seconds later through Jesse Lingard (57) before substitute Anthony Martial's late strike sealed victory on the night (88).
United are just three games from silverware and their bid to win the Europa League continues on Monday when they will face Copenhagen, who progressed past Istanbul Basaksehir, in a one-off game in the quarter-finals in Cologne.
LASK came to Old Trafford with nothing to lose following their thrashing in the first leg and they made United work hard. Andres Andrade saw a looping header strike the crossbar before Wiesinger lashed just wide in the 10th minute, while Sergio Romero had to deal with a Marko Raguz attempt later in the half.
The first half was certainly lacking quality, with United, who failed to muster a single shot on target against a side they scored five against five months ago, looking rusty and disjointed as they searched for a breakthrough.
Things did improve after the break and four minutes into the second half Odion Ighalo wriggled free to produce United's first effort on target.
Brandon Williams' cross then just evaded Daniel James and Lingard and they were made to pay for their wastefulness in front of goal as LASK opened the scoring in stunning style.
After Timothy Fosu-Mensah turned a threatening cross behind his own goal, the corner was only cleared as far as Wiesinger and the defender hit a stunning curler from 25 yards that bent in the top right-hand corner, leaving Romero absolutely no chance.
Wiesinger went close to adding to that 55th-minute wonder strike moments later and it proved a costly missed as United instantly hit back.
Mata met a loose ball with a lovely first-time pass that sent Lingard scampering through to slot past goalkeeper Alexander Schlager in the 57th minute.
Scott McTominay then fizzed wide from the edge of the penalty area as United started to crank up the pressure before Solskjaer handed a first-team debut to 18-year-old defender Teden Mengi, who came on at the same time as Martial.
The Frenchman wrapped up victory two minutes from time as neat build-up with Mata was followed by a shot
that trickled over the line after Schlager failed to keep it out.
Man Utd boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: "We learned the players need to play to keep that sharpness. Some of these lads haven't played for a while and it showed. We won, we gave a debut to a young lad, it's been a good night.
"It is that sharpness you lack when you don't play regularly, some haven't played since lockdown, for me it was a good exercise, it's job done, minutes under the belt and on to Copenhagen."
Jesse Lingard has scored in back-to-back matches for Manchester United for the first time since December 2018.
Solskjaer on Lingard: "Every player, when you get your chance in a game or even in training, you've got a chance to prove yourself, prove your worth. I've known Jesse since he was a little kid and I know there's a good player and a great personality to have around.
"He knows what we want from him and he knows he has to stand by the manager whatever decision he makes. I would be disappointed if he was happy coming off. He's growing in confidence. He's worked really hard on his finishing, especially lately, and I'm happy for him to score."
As previously mentioned, Manchester United will face Copenhagen in the Europa League last eight on Monday at the RheinEnergieStadion in Cologne, Germany.
For a full assessment of the Europa League state of play read more here
