Report: Manchester United 1-0 FC Copenhagen
Date: 10 August 2020
Venue: Stadion Koln
Manchester United needed to extra-time to secure a spot in the UEFA Europa League semi-finals after defeating FC Copenhagen on Monday night.
Paul Pogba got his first start in the tournament alongside Bruno Fernandes and Fred, who replaced Nemanja Matic. Meanwhile, Sergio Romero was preferred in goal to David de Gea.
United got off to a slow start and nearly find themselves behind after 17 minutes, only for Harry Maguire to pop up with a vital block to deny Mohammed Daramy a clear sight on goal before Pogba cleared the rebound away.
United, meanwhile, controlled the tempo from the onset but they struggled with their final pass in the 18-yard area not up to par, as the likes of Antony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood were kept quiet.
The Red Devils did have the ball in the back of the net on the stroke of halftime, but Greenwod's clinical strike was ruled out for an offside.
Greenwood came close once again just before the hour mark when his drilled effort from the edge of the box rattled the upright while Fernandes struck the other post minutes later.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer opted for a double change in the final 20 minutes as Matic and Victor Lindelof replaced Fred and Eric Bailly, who had picked up a yellow card just minutes earlier.
However, the Red Devils were unable to find a way past the Danish giants in the remaining stages of the half, which sent the game to extra-time.
United were handed a lifeline in the fifth minute of extra-time after they awarded a penalty for a foul on Martial, which allowed Fernandes to step up and convert from 12-yards for the opening goal.
The Red Devils were under presssure in the latter stages of extra-time but the likes of Maguire and Lindelof stood firm to see out the victory.
