Man United overcome plucky Granada to reach Europa League last 4

Sports Desk, Apr 15 (EFE).- Manchester United beat Granada 2-0 Thursday in the second leg of their Europa League quarterfinal to advance 4-0 on aggregate.

Starting on the back foot after the 0-2 loss in the first leg at home, Granada saw their hopes of what would be a historic comeback badly dented when Edinson Cavani extended the United lead in the 6th minute with an assist from Paul Pogba.

But the visitors fought on and Yangel Herrera should have done better with a chance to pull back a goal two minutes later.

Herrera squandered another great opportunity in the 20th minute and Granada saw the match grow more complicated at the half-hour with an injury that forced midfielder Maxime Gonalons to leave the pitch.

United’s Bruno Fernandes sent a shot just over the cross-bar in the 34th minute, but the hosts went to the dressing room in full command at 3-0.

A weak header from Jorge Molina ended up in the arms of United goalkeeper David De Gea four minutes into the second half, seconds before Granada’s Rui Silva comfortably handled an effort from Mason Greenwood.

Both Cavani and Donny van de Beek missed the mark for the home side before German Sanchez did likewise on Granada’s best opportunity of the second half.

In the final minute of regulation, a Juan Mata header took a deflection off defender Jesus Vallejo and past Silva for a Granada own goal as the Spanish club saw their best-ever European campaign come to an end in the Theater of Dreams.

Manchester United, who won the Europa League in 2017 during Jose Mourinho’s tenure at Old Trafford, will face AS Roma in the semifinals. EFE msg/dr