Wissam
Ben Yedder came off the bench to score the decisive goals as Sevilla
moved into the quarter-finals of the Champions League with a stunning
2-1 away win at Manchester United.
At a restless Old Trafford, United never got out of first gear and
Sevilla, having dominated the opening leg at home without finding a way
to beat David de Gea in a goalless draw, deservedly progressed.
When
Ben Yedder came off the bench with less than 20 minutes to play, the
game was finely balanced with both sides aware the first goal would be
decisive.
And
it proved to be the case as Ben Yedder made an immediate impact,
collecting a pass from Ever Banega to smash in a low finish.
With
United reeling, Ben Yedder soon added his eighth goal of this season's
Champions League, De Gea unable to claw out the striker's looping
header.
Jose Mourinho had already played his trump card, bringing
on Paul Pogba, who was only fit enough for the bench, and United
stumbled to a shock home defeat despite Romelu Lukaku sparking a
grandstand finish.
Lukaku blazed wide in the second minute after a smart one-two with Jesse Lingard created an early opportunity for United.
Joaquin Correa flashed a near-post header narrowly over the
crossbar from Banega's left-wing corner, with Luis Muriel then wasteful
after Eric Bailly's sloppy pass played Sevilla in.
Muriel dragged
another decent opening wide of the far post after Pablo Sarabia sent the
winger through on goal, with Sevilla dominating the opening half-hour.
United
finally worked a clear opening in the 38th minute, a powerful drive
from Marouane Fellaini beaten away by Sergio Rico after Alexis Sanchez
turned a one-two into the path of the Belgium international, who was
making his first start of 2018.
Bailly's
superbly-timed challenge denied Correa in the box, then Rico had to
make a smart save down to his right to turn a snapshot from Jesse
Lingard around the post.
With United lacking tempo on the ball and invention in midfield,
Mourinho turned to Pogba on the hour-mark, the midfielder replacing
Fellaini.
United continued to be sloppy on the ball, Pogba curling
a 72nd-minute effort narrowly wide, but it was a Sevilla substitute who
came up with the opener.
Ben Yedder had been on the pitch just 87
seconds when he controlled a smart pass from Banega, took a touch to
steady himself and drilled a fine finish inside De Gea's left-hand post.
Before
United could respond it was 2-0 and game over, chaotic defending
allowing Ben Yedder to divert a goalbound header that a desperate De Gea
was unable to stop crossing the line.
Lukaku
sparked a late fightback by turning in a Marcus Rashford corner but
United could not match Sevilla's clinical edge in front of goal.
De Gea denied Ben Yedder his hat-trick in added time, but it
mattered little as Vincenzo Montella celebrated having masterminded a
famous victory for his side.
Key Opta Facts:
- Including the 2011 final, Manchester United have only won one of their last nine Champions League knockout games (D3 L5).
- After progressing from the last 16 in five successive seasons – United have now been eliminated at this stage in two of their last three Champions League campaigns (2012-13 and 2017-18).
- This was the first defeat of a Premier League club by a La Liga club in the Champions League in 2017-18, at the ninth attempt (two wins for PL clubs, six draws).
- Sevilla are just the third side to score 2+ goals at Old Trafford against United under Jose Mourinho (Manchester City, twice and Burnley).
- Sevilla attempted 21 shots in this match – the most that Manchester United have allowed an opposition side at Old Trafford in a competitive match since Real Madrid attempted 22 in March 2013 (Champions League).
- In fact, Manchester City are the only other side to beat Manchester United at Old Trafford in Mourinho’s tenure at the club (1-2 in September 2016 and 1-2 in December 2017).
- David de Gea has conceded more goals in this match (2) than in his previous five Champions League games this season (1).
- Wissam Ben Yedder’s first goal was the fastest scored by a substitute in the Champions League this season (87 seconds).
- After progressing from the last 16 in five successive seasons – United have now been eliminated at this stage in two of their last three Champions League campaigns (2012-13 and 2017-18).
- This was the first defeat of a Premier League club by a La Liga club in the Champions League in 2017-18, at the ninth attempt (two wins for PL clubs, six draws).
- Sevilla are just the third side to score 2+ goals at Old Trafford against United under Jose Mourinho (Manchester City, twice and Burnley).
- Sevilla attempted 21 shots in this match – the most that Manchester United have allowed an opposition side at Old Trafford in a competitive match since Real Madrid attempted 22 in March 2013 (Champions League).
- In fact, Manchester City are the only other side to beat Manchester United at Old Trafford in Mourinho’s tenure at the club (1-2 in September 2016 and 1-2 in December 2017).
- David de Gea has conceded more goals in this match (2) than in his previous five Champions League games this season (1).
- Wissam Ben Yedder’s first goal was the fastest scored by a substitute in the Champions League this season (87 seconds).
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