With a sweeping first-time shot, Antony fired Manchester United to a rousing 2-1 win over Barcelona. The comeback victory at Old Trafford despatched United into the Europa League spherical of 16 and stored supervisor Erik ten Hag’s four-pronged trophy hunt on observe.
Antony might need silenced a number of critics, too. “He is brave, he is fearless,” Ten Hag mentioned of the Brazil ahead who price United $95 million for his switch from Ajax final summer season.
With United trailing 1-0 at halftime and heading out of the match, Antony got here off the bench to show the match round. His 73rd-minute strike accomplished a come-from-behind win and offered additional proof that Ten Hag’s group is a rising pressure in Europe.
“What he brought (in the) second half was what we needed, running in behind and dribbles and his goal,” Ten Hag mentioned.
Barcelona is main the way in which in Spain, eight factors forward of Champions League holder Real Madrid and seemingly on track for the home title. Yet, over two video games in opposition to United, the Spanish big was shaken by the tempo and urgent of Ten Hag’s gamers.
“We lacked that calm and patience and started the second half really bad,” Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez mentioned. “Small details. We could have been more intense.”
Robert Lewandowski’s first-half penalty had put the guests in entrance on mixture after the thrilling 2-2 draw within the first leg on the Nou Camp final week. But Fred’s strike within the forty seventh evened the match earlier than Antony’s winner.
In entrance of a raucous crowd of 73,000, this was the sort of encounter United followers hope will change into a daily incidence underneath Ten Hag, whose excellent first season in cost is enhancing by the week. “This is another step because when you can beat Barcelona — one of the best teams in this moment in Europe — your belief can be really strong because then I think you are able to beat anyone,” Ten Hag added.
The Dutch supervisor continues to be in competition to win 4 trophies, along with his group going through Newcastle within the League Cup closing on Sunday. United additionally sits third within the Premier League standings and continues to be within the FA Cup.
But Ten Hag’s group regarded in peril of being eradicated from the Europa League as Barcelona seized the benefit at Old Trafford, with Bruno Fernandes concerned within the two key incidents within the first half.
The Portugal worldwide may have put United in entrance after simply three minutes when he ran by way of on aim, solely to fireplace in opposition to the legs of goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen. Having didn’t take benefit at one finish, Fernandes was then responsible of dragging again Alejandro Balde within the field and referee Clement Turpin pointed to the spot.
All the feels __#UEL pic.twitter.com/25p0JGqhVZ
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) February 23, 2023
Despite getting a hand to Lewandowski’s 18th minute penalty, David de Gea couldn’t hold the ball out. United struggled to search out their rhythm earlier than the break, however evened the rating in an explosive begin to the second half when Fred fired previous Ter Stegen after Fernandes’ by way of ball.
Old Trafford was rocking and it went wild when Antony swept his shot low into the far nook to place United in entrance. “We’ve had some good wins, Liverpool and Arsenal, but I think this over two legs — Barcelona are La Liga leaders — to beat them it’s a big win,” Ten Hag mentioned.
Hat Trick for Angel di Maria
Angel Di Maria scored a hat trick as Juventus superior within the Europa League playoffs by beating Nantes 3-0. Juventus received 4-1 on mixture to make sure one other of Europe’s giants will play within the spherical of 16.World Cup winner Di Maria opened the scoring at Stade de la Beaujoire within the fifth minute and doubled the lead within the twentieth from the penalty spot after Nicolas Pallois was despatched off for a handball within the field.
The Argentine accomplished his hat trick within the 78th. Sporting Lisbon additionally reached the subsequent spherical after Pedro Goncalves scored twice in a 4-0 win at Midtjylland to safe a 5-1 mixture victory.
Midtjylland’s Paulinho was despatched off for receiving two yellow playing cards within the house of two minutes within the first half. Bayer Leverkusen wanted penalties to win an epic in opposition to Monaco after the rating ended 5-5 on mixture.
Monaco had received the primary leg in Germany 3-2, however shedding 3-1 going into the final 10 minutes on the Stade Louis II, it wanted a Breel Embolo aim within the 84th to ship the match into additional time. But that solely delayed Leverkusen’s celebrations because the German group received the shootout 5-3.
(With PTI inputs)
