JUST when Athletic Bilbao looked like they might climb the mountain – up steps Mason Mount.
The England ace climbed off the bench just after the hour when the impossible comeback looked on for the visitors.
PAMason Mount reminded fans of his ability with two quality goals[/caption]
The midfielder cupped his ear after scoring the equaliserGetty
Shutterstock EditorialMount swivelled before curling the ball into the bottom corner[/caption]
Casemiro’s header put Man Utd in front on the nightReuters
EPARasmus Hojlund copied Mo Salah’s celebration after scoring[/caption]
GettyMount scored a spectacular effort from close to the halfway line[/caption]
He levelled with a classy goal within 10 minutes – and in stoppage time he scored a stunner with the Bilbao keeper stranded.
In between Casemiro – again – and even Rasmus Hojlund got on the scoresheet as United won comfortably in the end.
They never do it the easy way here though – and for a while the home fans were sweating.
A total of 133 teams have won the away leg of a tie in this competition by three or more goals and all of them have gone through.
The only exception was when Olympiacos turned around such a deficit last year – but the return leg of their tie against Maccabi Tel Aviv was played on a neutral ground.
Despite losing eight of 17 home matches in the Prem this season, United had been beaten in just one of their last 30 Europa League ties at Old Trafford.
So it looked a tall order for Ernesto Valverde’s side, who arrived without four of their most high profile players.
Brothers Nico and Inaki Williams both missed out with injury along with top scorer Oihan Sancet.
Meanwhile defensive lynchpin Dani Vivian was suspended following his controversial sending off in the first leg.
An early goal would have been ideal for United to settle any nerves but there were plenty both on and off the pitch as there was little sign of a goal.
Alex Berenguer had an early sight of goal for Bilbao but curled his effort over the bar.
While skipper Bruno Fernandes played Alejandro Garnacho through on goal but Julen Agirrezabala raced off his line to stop him.
It had been a disjointed start from the home side – such a contrast to their performance in the San Mames a week ago.
Berenguer – who caught the eye in the first leg before he was sacrificed in the reshuffle following the red card – curled another effort wide.
Patrick Dorgu went down under a tackle by Andoni Gorosabei but the German referee waved away the appeals and the VAR agreed after a brief check.
The first leg hinged on a penalty and red card which was given after a lengthy review but there was never any danger of this one being given.
With a three goal lead still intact, there was no panic about the way United were playing – however out of nowhere the visitors took the lead on the half hour.
Harry Maguire missed header and then passed it to Alvaro Djalo whose shot was blocked – but it dropped nicely to Mikel Jaureguizar.
The 21-year-old midfielder still had plenty to do but curled a 20-yard shot into the top corner, giving Andre Onana no chance.
It was only his third senior goal – maybe he should try luck more often if that’s what he can do.
As for Maguire, he has been the unlikely hero of United’s Europa League run from an attacking point of view – maybe it has gone to his head.
It gave the outstanding visiting support fresh hope – a final in their own stadium was the dream and it was flickering again.
Even so, United should have extinguished that before the break.
Dorgu stroked a delightful pass through the middle which Garnacho ran onto and raced clear – before lifting his shot over the keeper but the wrong side of the post.
Ruben Amorim’s job at the break was to keep his players calm. He had warned in the build-up that this team had a tendency to ‘lose their minds’.
And in the opening stages of the second half it looked like they had done with Athletic in complete control.
All that was missing was a killer pass as the home side struggled to get out of their own half.
Amorim made a triple sub just after the hour in a bid to change the course of the game – and one of them, Amad Diallo immediatley showed a bit more intent.
But there was another scare as Unai Gomez sent a header right across the face of goal and wide of the far post.
However it was another of Amorim’s changes who finally settled it as Mount swivelled in the box before curling home.
It was their first shot on target of the night – and they hardly deserved to be level – but the Stretford End didn’t care.
Minutes later Casemiro looped a header home from a Fernandes free-kick to put the result beyond doubt.
Hojlund even got in the knack as he tapped in Diallo had got to the byline and squared for him.
And in stoppage time, with Agireezabala stranded, Mount showed great composure to chip in from about 45 yards into an empty net.
What a night it turned out to be.
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