Audio By Carbonatix
Mason Mount ended 20 months of torment with a brilliant second half double as Manchester United booked an all-English Europa League final with Tottenham in Bilbao on 21 May.
On an anxious, nervy, mistake-ridden night at Old Trafford, fingernails were starting to get chewed at the sight of the home side making it so hard for themselves despite starting the second-leg of their semi-final with Athletic Bilbao holding a three-goal advantage.
But Mount chose exactly the right time to step up.
Beset by a succession of injuries that have limited the England man to just 10 Premier League starts since his £55m move from Chelsea in 2023, Mount had only been on the pitch 10 minutes when he turned onto Leny Yoro's short pass inside the Bilbao penalty area.
Mount's strike was true and arrowed into the far corner.
It was his third United goal but it was by far the most important and ended lingering fears the visitors might become the first side in 134 attempts in Uefa competitions to overturn a three-goal first leg deficit away from home.
But there was more to come.
After Casemiro and Rasmus Hojlund had steered United into a winning lead, Mount pounced on a loose ball 45 yards out and floated a superb shot into an empty net.
The goal capped a memorable Old Trafford night and maintained United's unbeaten record in the competition.
The final outcome was harsh on the Spanish visitors, who were the better side for long periods and led at half-time thanks to Mikel Jauregizar's magnificent 30-yard effort.
That did not matter to the home fans at the final whistle as they will now get a shot at salvaging their season against the Premier League's other great underachievers.
Latest Stories
-
Kumawu MP rallies stakeholders as ‘Papa Nantwie Festival Returns’ after 19 years
22 minutes -
Serial killer jailed for life over 23 murders across 2 regions
54 minutes -
CLOGSAG questions basis for proposed CAGD independence
1 hour -
Ousted GCTU Vice-Chancellor heads to court over termination
1 hour -
Global forces, not Mahama, driving economy – Freddie Blay
2 hours -
21 remand inmates granted bail in Tamale under Justice for All Programme
2 hours -
Ghana Hotels Association marks 50 years of impact, urges mandatory professional association membership
2 hours -
Gulf shipping crisis deepens as tankers stranded for fifth day, US sinks Iranian warship
2 hours -
Health is Wealth: Experts make economic case for urgent healthcare investment at Roche Africa Press Day
2 hours -
Amelley Djosu writes: Are we honouring the dead or impressing the living?
2 hours -
Ayawaso East by-election: Low turnout, peaceful polls – Photos
2 hours -
Afenyo-Markin is doing well as Minority Leader , should not be removed for now – Freddie Blay
2 hours -
STLF disburses first-semester loans to over 27,000 students for 2025/26 academic year
2 hours -
NPP has right to act, but no plan exists to remove Minority Leader Afenyo-Markin – Freddie Blay
2 hours -
Ghana, St Kitts and Nevis sign visa exemption agreement for ordinary passport holders
2 hours
