Manchester United defeats Athletic Bilbao, reach Europa League final

MANCHESTER: Manchester United booked their berth in the Europa League final after a 4-1 semi-final win Athletic Bilbao on Thursday, with Mason Mount scoring twice to hand the hosts a 7-1 aggregate win and a chance for the beleaguered team to hoist some silverware this season.

Manchester United, who are languishing in 15th place in the Premier League, kicked off the night with a comfortable cushion thanks to their stunning 3-0 victory a week earlier in Bilbao.

But Mikel Jauregizar put Athletic Bilbao on the score sheet in the 31st minute after a terrible clearance attempt by Harry Maguire landed at the Spaniard’s feet and he unleashed a blistering shot from outside the box into the top corner.

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Mount drew Manchester United level in the 72nd minute, latching onto a pass from Leny Yoro before turning and firing past goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala. Casemiro headed home from a free kick seven minutes later, and Rasmus Hojlund put the game out of reach in the 85th when Amad Diallo cut the ball back from the byline into the six-yard box and the Dane tapped into an empty net.

Mount completed his double in added time when he spotted Agirrezabala well out of his net and fired a shot from just inside the visitors’ half.

United, the Europa League champions in 2017, will play Tottenham Hotspur in an all-Premier League final on May 21 at Bilbao’s San Mames Stadium.