MANCHESTER UNITED SURVIVED a sizeable scare to reach their first Europa League final after a nervy 1-1 draw with Celta Vigo on Thursday completed a 2-1 aggregate victory.
Marouane Fellaini’s 17th-minute header put United 2-0 up on aggregate, but Celta hit back late on through Facundo Roncaglia, who was then sent off along with United’s Eric Bailly following a centre-circle melee.
United will play a youthful Ajax team in the final at Stockholm’s Friends Arena on May 24, when they can complete their trophy collection and — perhaps more importantly — book a place in next season’s Champions League.
But manager Jose Mourinho will have to do without influential centre-back Bailly, whose suspension leaves Chis Smalling, Phil Jones and Daley Blind as United’s only available central defenders.
With Mourinho having publicly abandoned hope of a top-four finish in the Premier League, after his side fell four points off the Champions League berths, United’s season would have effectively been over had they gone out.
Instead they have a chance to add a second big trophy to the League Cup won in February and allow Mourinho to end a complicated maiden campaign as manager by winning the fourth major European honour of his career.
Appearing in their first European semi-final, Eduardo Berizzo’s Celta gave United several uncomfortable moments and there was panic in the hosts’ box during the fraught closing stages.
Both managers reverted to the teams that had started last week’s first leg, which meant a United return for Paul Pogba, whose world-record transfer from Juventus is being investigated by Fifa.
United started shakily, with Blind looking particularly uncertain, and there were early murmurs of concern around Old Trafford when Iago Aspas cut in from the right and obliged Sergio Romero to tip his rasping shot over.
An audacious juggling show from Pogba roused the crowd and United tightened their grip on the tie when Marcus Rashford’s sumptuous cross from the left was headed in at the back post by Fellaini.
The goal had the effect of freeing United from their shackles, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Jesse Lingard and Pogba all arrowing shots over the bar.
But Celta served reminders of their threat as the first half drew to a close, Pablo Hernandez, Pione Sisto and John Guidetti working Romero and Daniel Wass heading wide from Sisto’s dangerous drilled cross.
Celta continued to probe in the second half, with Guidetti thrashing inches wide from Sisto’s lay-off and heading off-target from Mallo’s cross.
United also had their moments, Celta goalkeeper Sergio Alvarez saving from Mkhitaryan and Fellaini and producing a smart block to thwart Rashford after the 19-year-old had jinked his way past two defenders.
Roncaglia’s looping 85th-minute header set the scene for a nerve-wracking finale, but despite losing Bailly, United held on.
Ajax looked to have killed their tie against Lyon following their first leg 4-1 win at home last week when Kasper Dolberg gave them a 27th minute lead.
But a quick-fire double right at the end of the first period from Alexandre Lacazette — the first from the penalty spot — gave the French side hope.
Substitute Rachid Ghezzal’s heavily deflected header nine minutes from time followed by Dutch international Nick Viergever’s sending off gave Lyon extra impetus but they couldn’t find an all-important fourth to send the tie into extra-time.
Instead, Ajax will play their first final in this competition since winning the trophy in 1992, and their first European final since losing to Juventus in the Champions League in 1996.
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Their 367th home draw of the season.
@WJH: it’s doesn’t matter a fook. A final is a final is a final yes?
@WJH: that might be funny if it was original. But alas……………..
@WJH: and yet we could finish the season with two trophies! Unbelievable Jeff!
What a joke. I’m not even going to celebrate this victory. How can they dod a bullet against a side 12th in La Liga??
Jose, your tatics confirmed one thing for me. You are the biggest AssClown that has ever lived in this game. End of story!
@Conor Cahill: Vigo were in tie for 10 mins that’s about it
@Conor Cahill: it wasn’t a victory, lad. We drew. Doesn’t matter though we’re in the final, and that team in 12th beat Barce this year
@John Flynn: who’s we, are you part of the team in some way?
@John Flynn: Celta Vigo had lost five previous games in all competitions, scoring just once….They are shite, nonsense bringing Barca into it!
@Lord Clanricarde: they beat Real Madrid too. They also put all their eggs in the Europa League basket and gave up on the league.
@Paddy: yeah I was out there playing tonight. Did you not see me?
@John Flynn: missed that some how, in that case carry on celebrating
@John Flynn: and Madrid away
@Irishoversea: eh did u watch the game mate? Vigo bossed the 2nd half snd only for that donkey of a citeh reject would have sailed try!!!
@leonard byrne: yes watched all the game and Vigo were only in it with 10 mins to go.. when it was 2-0 to United Vigo weren’t in the game at all United had 2 goal lead
Job done , I can see Utd winning it now!
@Adrian Costigan: Go home, Adrian, you’re drunk! -_-
@Adrian Costigan: they won’t beat Ajax…and they’ll finish 5th or 6th in the Premiership…well more than likely 6th as that’s their position they have owned that place since October LAST YEAR….what a team to be proud of….NOT…
@dannyboy: same guy who said Celta Vigo would beat them. Good man.
@casual.tri.guy: I wish I could use my throwing my eyes up to heaven emoji for half the rubbish spouted here. I gave up commenting on the 42 for a week. Think I’ll make it permanent. How many game do you play in the Europa league to get to the final? And they’re shite?! Please. Not a classic performance no but they deserve to be there
Play like that again and its ajax cup
@Stiofán Ó Cearnaigh: to be fair Ajax made hard work of Lyon after having a 3 goal lead
@Irishoversea: 4 goal lead
A few pairs of messy pants being wore by United fans all around the world now. Man that Guidetti is brutal.
@The Pig: yea, I’m one of em. Unlucky Celta. They were excellent. That forward is absolutely shite.
@Nollaig Elliot: you can only beat what’s in front of you and United done it over 2 legs. Ajax in final i wouldn’t be worried. Champions league Ball next year again. Not his biggest fan but José has a c.v you can’t knock. The Pig.
@The Pig: I’ll take the win all day and look forward to the final but Jose played a dangerous game sitting back at home in a semi final. Blind had a nightmare. Bailly a huge loss.
@The Pig: Guidetti is brutal but can’t put too much blame on him for that last chance. The other lad should have taken the shot and it was one pass too many and he was caught off guard. That said he missed 3 or 4 other chances too.
@Nollaig Elliot: good job he was a citeh reject lol r we b out lol
Guidetti getting the stick when your man had a clear shot and chose to drill it across the box at pace and behind the striker. Another shocker at home. Where to start with new players. So many average holes in the team. Have no idea what lingard offers. He did less than nothing
@Ray Taff: Lingaard is solely there for marketing purposes, keeps the aul Instagram and Twitter feed ticking over with handshakes and dance videos from the dressing room!
@Lord Clanricarde: I was at the Swansea game 2 weeks ago and Lingard was actively refusing the ball. Hand out, don’t give me that pass kinda job. Horrible to watch and he’s robbing his 100k a week. Fergie would have farmed him out to Yeovil and he would never have been seen again and that’s the facts.
Blind and Darmian looked like pub team players any decent team would have took advantage of that. Can’t complain to much when getting to a final but United are awful to watch completely disjointed tonight. Bailly out for the final is a massive loss.
@Eric Djemba-Djemba: blind was so poor I don’t think he would have played the final or even again this season but now with bailly out he probably will
@Eric Djemba-Djemba: agree that left side was weak. Someone bring this lingard joke to an end. He not physically strong to play at this level.
Herera doing pogba work again !
@Declan Doyle: not just his strength, he isn’t interested in creating anything, he just goes for the pass back to anyone that passes to him
@Declan Doyle: Agreed Declan, Pogba was poor yet again tonight. I’m still waiting for him to dominate midfield in a game for a guy of his height and strength. Instead he just tries to be flash and gets dispossessed so friggin often. As a United fan I’m happy they’re in a final but they are painful to watch.
Poor Guidetti must of had concussion otherwise he would easily scored and knocked United out..
@Irishoversea: it’s serves him right for going down and rolling around like a tramp on the ground. Also his focus was all wrong it should have been all about Celta Vigo and not stupidly bring City into it, every chance he had to score I guarantee he was trying to score for city.
Well done UTD, well done Jose.
UTD back in a European Final.
John Guidetti disgracefully got a fellow professional Bailly sent off through simulation, a fellow pro who will now miss the opportunity to play in a European Final then missed an absolute sitter at the death.
Hahahahahahaha!
Hope you have nightmares for a month over that. May it haunt you forever you cheat.
Karma’s a beech.
@Jack Cassady: surely red can be overturned on appeal.
@Denis McGrath:
Looked to me as if Tony V had more of an impact on the player.
Definitely appeal the card. Shocking that Bailly should miss a final over that piece of nonsense.
@Denis McGrath: I would hope so Denis.
United have to appeal.
That dive was a disgrace. Miss couldn’t have happened to a bigger pr##k. Delighted for him.
@Declan Doyle: can’t raise your hands even if you do go down like a 5 dollar tramp. Stupid. He’ll be a big loss
@Jack Cassady: a bit like vidic did to drogba in Moscow 2008 . Rolled around like a little girl when drogba touched his face . I hope Bertrand traore tears you lot a new one !
Jose should have enough for Ajax in the final. They will come at UTD who will sit back and hit on the break.
Or just sit back and then sit back some more, take it to extra time and sit back some more and hope De Gea does the business in the peno shoot out…. Jose will be driving the double decker for the Final
@Dan: The last 10mins Ajax v Lyon was some nailbiting stuff. Heard fireworks going off in Amsterdam just after the final whistle. They’re a very eager side, anything’s possible in that final. Hoping for an Amsterdam party.
@Dan: ya like weve done all season mate nooott!!!!
@leonard byrne: why affect the accent when you can discuss it normally like everyone else ??
Ajax will beat them
@Aidan Holden: easy money waiting for ya so in the bookies aidan, being a man of your convictions and all
3/1 some price
@Declan Doyle: he’s all talk. Won’t back them.
Sitting watching the last 15 mins and u could see the goal coming! Did Mourhino not ffs!
@Denis McGrath: agree Denis. They desperately ran out of legs at the end
@Declan Doyle: Just like so many games at OT this season. I can’t help but blame d manager. Martial and Mata either wud a been an outlet n took Lingard off
@Denis McGrath: Doesn’t mean he could do anything about it
@Denis McGrath: no cos hes a fffn tool!! Stevie wonder could see that with hellen kellers eyes ffs!!! Maureen is clueless hence chelseas season this year!!!
Has the realisation just set in with United fans about Jose? What else did you expect? That is his style of football, grab an early goal and sit back and spoil the games as much as possible. He is a defensive manager, only gets results when you the team to do it. That United team isn’t the Chelsea team that put him on the map.
@….: Porto put him on the map.
@David: Sorry meant in the Premiership.
@….: He won the champions league, with Porto. Who cares about the premiership?
@David: Because United play in that League
Ajax wouldn’t put the fear of god into you but they will be well prepared. united haven’t done well against teams from the Netherlands either.
Would of taken few years to get it together be giggs should have got the job all along
We have become average football club Old Trafford is not feared Fortress it once was!
Jammy Baskits i was hoping they would lose.