Villarreal VS Manchester United – Match Report

8pm GMT Kick Off, Stadion Miejski, Gdansk, Europa League Final

After a draw in normal time and a dramatic penalty shootout, Villarreal come away from Gdansk with the Europa League.

Villarreal took the led in the first half through Gerard Moreno, before Edinson Cavani pulled one back in the second half to take it to extra time.

The first five from each team were scored and of sudden death penalties De Gea missed his penalty, which gave Villarreal their first ever trophy

United had the first chance of the game. Marcus Rashford made a run into the box and laid the ball onto the edge of the box for Scott McTominay who dragged his shot wide.

Manchester United were knocking on the door as they tried to create an opening with a number of crosses. Luke Shaw came close as he drilled it goalward, but it was just wide of the target.

It was the Spanish club that took the lead. A free kick was whipped towards the back stick by Dani Parejo and Villarreal’s main man, Gerard Moreno poked the ball past David De Gea, which was Villarreal’s 100th goal this season.

Within the first few minutes of the second half, United could have a penalty after Alfonso Pedraza made contact with Mason Greenwood in the box. However, the referee deemed that their wasn’t enough contact.

It didn’t take long for the Red Devils to get another chance as Edinson Cavani was the man to pull the English club back into the game after a corner was cleared which was played back into the box, which Cavani reacted quickest to and slotted the ball past Geronimo Rulli to draw the game level in the 56th minute.

Rashford should have given United the lead. Bruno Fernandes found space down the right wing and played the ball across to Rashford who was unmarked. The Englishman got to the ball and put the shot wide of the target.

United were pushing for their second goal of the game and came close once again. Shaw fired the ball back stick towards Cavani who headed it goalward. It would have gave them the lead if it weren’t for a heroic block from Pau Torres.

The last chance of the game fell for Torres who tried to find the far post, but his effort just went over the bar, so the game went into extra time.

Alberto Moreno and Paco Alcacer both had good opportunities to take the lead, but both lacked the composure and smashed their effort over the bar. As extra time carried on, no one else really had a chance so the game went to penalties.

All the first five penalties for each team were scored, so it went to sudden death. There were great penalties from everyone and then it went down to the keepers.

Rulli took a penalty and put it into the top corner, and De Gea’s penalty was saved by Rulli, which meant Unai Emery’s Europa League record carries on.

Man Of The Match – Scott McTominay

The Scotland international had a great game, as he was solid in midfield for United in this game.

He won the ball back a number of times, while also dribbling and passing the ball into dangerous positions.

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