Substitute Paul Pogba struck just minutes after his half-time introduction to give Manchester United a 1-0 win at AC Milan on Thursday to progress 2-1 on aggregate to the last eight of the Europa League.
Midfielder Pogba, on his return from injury, fired in high at the near post in the 49th minute to give United the honours in the battle between former European champions.
United led the first leg at Old Trafford until being denied victory by an injury-time equalizer but made no mistake in the return despite a lethargic first half.
Manchester United’s Paul Pogba (R) challenges for the ball AC Milan?s Pierre Kalulu during the UEFA Europa League round of 16 second leg soccer match between AC Milan and Manchester United at Giuseppe Meazza stadium in Milan, Italy, 18 March 2021. EPA-EFE/MATTEO BAZZI
“Obviously, we’re very happy we’re through,” United full back Luke Shaw told BT Sport. “I’ll be honest, and the lads and staff would agree, we weren’t good at all especially first half we were awful.
“Second half it always helps to have a world class player like Paul (Pogba) to make a difference and he did that. But we know we need to be better than tonight.”
Pogba, missing since early last month, made the difference and even the introduction of top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic on his return from injury, could not save the hosts.
“The first half was a bit of an even game,” said Milan defender Fikayo Tomori.
“After the first leg, we came into the came confidently but credit to Manchester United, they limited us on the day.”
Arsenal reached the quarter-finals despite a 1-0 defeat at home to Olympiacos while London rivals Tottenham Hotspur were stunned by a brilliant Dinamo Zagreb comeback.
Olympiacos’ Youssef El-Arabi (R) in action against Arsenal’s Kieran Tierney (L) during the UEFA Europa League round of 16, second leg soccer match between Arsenal FC and Olympiacos Piraeus in London, Britain, 18 March 2021. EPA-EFE/ANDY RAIN
Arsenal were defending a 3-1 lead from Greece in their home leg and though Youssef El Arabi struck with a deflection in the second half, Olympiacos could not repeat their come-from-behind escapade from 2020 when they eliminated the Gunners in the last 32.
A petulant late red card for Ousseynou Ba ended Olympiacos’ hopes of a miracle and Arsenal eased into Friday’s draw.
“We’re obviously really happy to go through,” said Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. “We had a tough opponent, we knew that.
“We knew that they weren’t going to give up. At the same time, we have to be fair with ourselves, and today we were nowhere near the levels that we have to set ourselves.”
In Zagreb, a second half ouble from Mislav Orsic cancelled Spurs’ 2-0 first leg lead to take the contest to extra-time and the Croatia midfielder completed his hat-trick – and the comeback – with a brilliant solo winner for a 3-0 triumph.
Players of Zagreb celebrate winning the UEFA Europa League Round of 16, second leg match between Dinamo Zagreb and Tottenham Hotspur in Zagreb, Croatia, 18 March 2021. EPA-EFE/ANTONIO BAT
“It’s hard to say something after this,” said Orsic. “This is like a dream, a historical result.
“One of the biggest victories in the club’s history. We all played as one, this is the match to remember.”
Dinamo had Damir Krznar on the bench after former coach Zoran Mamic was jailed for fraud this week.
Spurs produced an appalling performance to increase the pressure on manager Jose Mourinho with the team sitting only eighth in the Premier League.
“My team didn’t bring to the game the basics of football or life – to respect our jobs and give everything,” the Portuguese coach said. “I can only apologise to the Tottenham supporters.”
Steven Gerrard’s Scottish title winners Rangers crashed out 2-0 at home to Slavia Prague, 3-1 on aggregate, with nine men. The hosts had Kemar Roofe red carded for a brutal challenge on keeper Ondrej Kolar and Leon Balogun dismissed for two yellows.
Villarreal defeated Dynamo Kiev 2-0, replicating the score from their first leg in Ukraine, and Ajax won 2-0 at Young Boys of Switzerland for a 5-0 aggregate cruise.
Roma’s Borja Mayoral (L) in action against Shakhtar’s Serhiy Kryvtsov (R) during the UEFA Europa League Round of 16, second leg soccer match between Shakhtar Donetsk and AS Roma in Kiev, Ukraine, 18 March 2021. EPA-EFE/SERGEY DOLZHENKO
Roma won 2-1 away to Shakhtar Donetsk to complete a 5-1 aggregate rout while Norway’s Molde beat Granada 2-1 in a game played in Budapest because of coronavirus restrictions – the Spaniards progressed 3-2 on aggregate to continue their maiden European campaign.
