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Manchester United 1-0 AET Copenhagen: Portuguese was once decisive for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer team
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Manchester United’s long crusade in the Europa League will last a little longer. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would not have wanted his players to be subjected to an extension of this compact condensed mini tour in Germany after a long and complicated national season, but they needed one more hour to defeat Stale Solbakken’s fierce Copenhagen.
Bruno Fernandes’ shot, United’s 21st penalty in all competitions this season, won through Anthony Martial at the start of the additional 30 minutes, despite everything, made a difference.
The advance to the quarter-finals would have been a lot without the acrobatics of Copenhagen goalkeeper Karl-Johan Johnsson and the carpentry, which United struck over and over again.
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However, it’s hard work. Copenhagen the most productive team for spells and had its own opportunities.
Unfortunately for Solbakken, the most productive of them fell to his left rear. Solskjaer, on the other hand, may now be waiting for a semi-final against Seville or family enemies in the form of Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday, the challenge will be how much power has been spent to get there.
United started poorly, careless in ownership and slow to leave. The anime Mohamed Daramy, about two and a half months younger than even Mason Greenwood, caused many unrest in the initial exchanges. It was Eric Bailly, a wonderful variety with Harry Maguire at the center of United’s defense, to overtake the 18-year-old and deny him an undeniable touch after a quarter of an hour.
Bailly couldn’t do much to prevent Daramy from backing down a few minutes later when the young man turned to one side and then to the other, then dodged it within the penalty area. This time, Maguire on hand to block the goal shot. Luck came after Fred’s whimsical midfield pass, but several United players were also guilty of being careless with the ball. Copenhagen dominated.
It was not in the script, but United gradually began rewriting it, taking increasing credit for the ball in Copenhagen. Greenwood gave the impression that he had discovered the advance in extra time at the end of half-time, exploded to retrieve a holed headbutt from Marcus Rashford and completed brilliantly, striking goalkeeper Karl-Johan Johnsson from a sharp angle with his right hand opposite the pole. and in.
It would have been Greenwood’s 18th purpose on a surprising first crusade if he hadn’t lost one or two meters of offside in preparation. The purpose was resolved well after a lengthy review of the VAR and there would be more frustration in the early stages of the time period. Greenwood scored the amount again. This time, the ball bounced aimlessly for Rashford, but reported by converting the rebound.
Bruno Fernandes next to hit the wood. His speculative attempt at diversity overcame Johnsson but did not fall kindly for a United teammate, how much he began to wonder if it would be one of the nights that singles playoffs occasionally produce. However, for Copenhagen to achieve a surprise result, he would have to check his luck and Bryan Oviedo missed an excellent one.
The foreign Costa Rican is the most productive known on those coasts for a five-year period at Everton, culminating in a vanquished winning purpose that slid to the post at Old Trafford at the time in 2013. Seven years later, Oviedo too slow to comply. an ejection on the rear post following the brilliant wing play of Rasmus Falk, which allowed Aaron Wan-Bissaka to be blocked. It is comfortably the most productive opportunity of the night. Copenhagen couldn’t make it worth it.
However, at least The Solbakken players gained confidence after that failure and United vanished. However, the sub-parrots had to remain alert. Anthony Martial turned down twice in the last seven minutes of general time, first through Johnsson’s strong right man to defend himself from a shot on purpose from a distance, and then through Viktor Nelsson’s latest challenge after a slalom through the Copenhagen defense.
Third time of luck? Martial resumed where he had stopped and continued to ask questions at Solbakken’s rear early in extra time, forcing a quick stop from Johnsson, and moments later won the decisive penalty.
It was a sweet reward, in all honesty, however, Andreas Bjelland gave him each and every chance of going to the ground by putting his arm on Martial’s shoulder. Fernandes hasn’t lost his place for about four years and, even opposed to the lively Johnsson, he has kept that record immaculate.
United continued, seeking to put its position in the last 4 without a doubt. Juan Mata’s arrival at the beginning of the extra time had brought more movement and vision to his game: the Spaniard, the third of Solskjaer’s players, hit the post, but they did not want the extra security of a goal at the moment.
It was a long evening at the end of a long campaign, but United continued.
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