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Sevilla Humbles Man United, Roma Enjoys Aggregate Win

Wissam Ben Yedder’s two goals against Manchester United sent Sevilla to the quarterfinals.
Wissam Ben Yedder’s two goals against Manchester United sent Sevilla to the quarterfinals.

Sevilla stunned Manchester United thanks to a brace from Tunisian striker Wissam Ben Yedder, to dump last season’s Europa League winner out of the UEFA Champions League on March 13.

The substitute silenced Old Trafford with goals on the 74th and 78th minute. United pulled a goal back through Lukaku with six minutes to play to set up a grandstand finish, but the challenge proved too much for Mourinho’s men who lost the tie 2-1 on aggregate, Beinsports reported.

In truth, United lacked attacking intent for vast swathes of the two-legged content and allowed Sevilla to get into the tie. Many expected United to dominate the second leg at Old Trafford, but the Red Devils struggled to get to grips with the tie in the first half.

United’s loss was Sevilla’s gain and the Spanish side had a host of pot-shots from distance in the opening 45.

United came out reinvigorated in the second half. Lingard came close with a drilled shot that  was well saved by Rico. The introduction of Pogba proved to be a turning point in the game.

The momentum that United had from the early moments of the second half slowed down, although Pogba did curl a shot wide as United attempted to force the issue. However, on the 74th minute, Sevilla took full advantage on the break.

Sarabia played a perfect ball through the United defense to substitute Ben Yedder. The Tunisian took one touch and drilled the ball into the bottom right-hand corner, just out of the reach of de Gea.

United needed two goals to progress and pushed forward. Just four minutes later, Sevilla doubled their advantage from a corner. Ben Yedder was again on hand at the far-post and headed powerfully toward the goal.

The Spanish goalkeeper did his best to get the ball away, but it was well over and Sevilla had one foot in the Champions League quarterfinals.

United pulled one back as Lukaku volleyed in from Mata’s cross and needed two goals to progress. Mourinho’s men gave it their best shot, but the night belonged to Sevilla that set up perfectly on the break to defeat United.

A place in Friday’s quarterfinals draw now awaits Montella’s side, while Mourinho will rue that his side did not go on the front foot earlier in the contest.

 Away Goals Help Roma

Edin Dzeko’s second-half goal proved sufficient for Roma to beat Shakhtar Donetsk on the night and progress to the quarterfinals on away goals.

A composed 52nd-minute finish from Dzeko was enough to claim victory for Roma at home to Shakhtar Donetsk and send the Italian side through after the tie finished 2-2 on aggregate.

Chances were at a premium in the opening 45 minutes despite plenty of attacking intent from both sides, with Facundo Ferreyra slicing wide the clearest opening after dispossessing Roma’s Federico Fazio.

The decisive moment came early in the second half when Kevin Strootman’s through ball caught the Shakhtar defense high up the pitch and Dzeko burst through before calmly sliding his finish through the legs of Andriy Pyatov.

The visitors’ hopes of snatching the equalizer needed to progress were hampered when Ivan Ordets was sent off for a 79th-minute professional foul on Dzeko. The hosts then held firm to reach the last eight for the first time in 10 years, with Shakhtar failing to register a shot on target in the entire match.

Sevilla and AC Roma joined four teams previously cruised through the quarterfinals of the Champions League.

Premier League teams Manchester City and Liverpool, 12-time Champions League winner Real Madrid and Juventus of Italy are the other four teams.

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