Mason Mount came off the bench to inspire Manchester United to a commanding 4-1 victory over Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League semifinal second leg on Thursday, securing a 7-1 aggregate triumph and a place in the final against Tottenham Hotspur.
In front of a raucous Old Trafford crowd, United overcame a first-half setback to overwhelm the visitors and keep their hopes of salvaging silverware from a dismal domestic season alive.
Despite currently sitting 15th in the Premier League, the Red Devils now stand one win away from lifting their first Europa League trophy since 2017 — and more importantly, booking a ticket back into the Champions League.
Mikel Jauregizar briefly unsettled the hosts with a thunderous 31st-minute goal, capitalizing on Harry Maguire’s botched clearance to cut United’s aggregate lead to 3-1. But the Spanish side’s hopes were short-lived.
United boss Ruben Amorim introduced Mount in the second half, and the midfielder made an immediate impact. In the 72nd minute, Mount pounced on a pass from teenage defender Leny Yoro, turned quickly, and slotted the ball past Athletic keeper Julen Agirrezabala to restore order at Old Trafford.
Mount’s goal sparked a late onslaught. Casemiro’s glancing header from a free kick in the 79th minute extended the lead, before Rasmus Hojlund tapped in from close range following a clever cutback by Amad Diallo. The trio celebrated in front of the jubilant Stretford End with a selfie that captured the night’s mood.
Then came Mount’s pièce de résistance: a stunning left-footed strike from just inside the opposition half that caught Agirrezabala off his line and sent Old Trafford into raptures. Even Amorim couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief.
“My first goals at Old Trafford. A special night,” Mount reflected. “It was too long waiting for such a night… Today it paid off and I came on and affected the game.”
Despite the celebration, Amorim urged caution. “We need to win it. If we don’t win it, it means nothing for us,” he said, emphasizing the importance of sealing the job in the May 21 final at Bilbao’s San Mames Stadium.
Athletic coach Ernesto Valverde lamented his team’s collapse in the closing stages. “Take away those last few minutes, it was much more even,” he said. “But games last 90 minutes.”
Now, with Tottenham awaiting in the final, United’s season hinges on one more performance — one that could rewrite a troubled campaign into a tale of redemption.
