Man United reach Europa League final after dispatching Athletic Bilbao

MANCHESTER, England :Manchester United booked their berth in the Europa League final after a 4-1 semi-final thrashing of Athletic Bilbao on Thursday, with Mason Mount scoring twice to hand the hosts a 7-1 aggregate win and a chance for the beleaguered team to hoist some silverware this season.

United, who are languishing in 15th place in the Premier League, kicked off the night with a comfortable cushion thanks to their stunning 3-0 victory a week earlier in Bilbao.

But Mikel Jauregizar put Athletic on the score sheet in the 31st minute after a terrible clearance attempt by Harry Maguire landed at the Spaniard's feet and he unleashed a blistering shot from outside the box into the top corner.

The goal made for some nervy moments in Old Trafford but the mood shifted dramatically when Mount, a second-half substitute, drew United level in the 72nd minute to finally silence the 5,000 singing Athletic fans. The midfielder latched onto a short pass from Leny Yoro before turning and firing past goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala.

Casemiro scored with a glancing header from a free kick seven minutes later, and Rasmus Hojlund put the game out of reach in the 85th when Amad Diallo cut the ball back from the byline into the six-yard box and the Dane tapped into an empty net.

Hojlund was then handed a mobile phone and posed with Diallo and Yoro for a celebratory selfie in front of the partying Stretford End crowd.

Mount completed his double in added time when he spotted Agirrezabala well out of his net and fired a left-footed rocket from about six yards inside the visitors' half that hit the back of the net and had United boss Ruben Amorim laughing with delight.

"It was too long (waiting for a night like that)," Mount said. "I carried on