Wissam Ben Yedder celebrates
Wissam Ben Yedder celebrates

Champions League: Man Utd 1-2 Sevilla - Wissam Ben Yedder double puts Spaniards through


Sevilla sent Manchester United crashing out of the Champions League with a stunning 2-1 victory at Old Trafford putting them into the quarter-finals for the first time in their history.

Substitute Wissam Ben Yedder scored two crucial away goals just six minutes after coming off the bench to give his side a deserved lead against a sluggish United, who finally came alive once behind as Romelu Lukaku lashed in from a corner seven minutes from time.

Sevilla are 50/1 outsiders to win the Champions League with Sky Bet

A cagey game burst into life in the closing stages with opportunities suddenly in abundance at both ends. Ben Yedder missed two fine chances to complete a hat-trick while Marcus Rashford headed just wide, as United ultimately ran out of ideas in a catastrophic defeat.

After Jose Mourinho appeared to send his side out for a draw in the first leg in Spain, many expected that he'd adopt a more attacking approach in the return, but it was more of the same in a poor first half devoid of any real action.

Joaquin Correa wasted an opening when he was thwarted by a superb Eric Bailly tackle, before a drab encounter sparked into life when Ben Yedder emerged off the bench.

Introduced on 72 minutes, Ben Yedder put the visitors 2-0 ahead after just six minutes on the field - firstly capping off a clinical Sevilla move through a surprisingly open United defence with a fine touch and finish.

The second was even worse from United's point of view, with Correa given acres of space from a corner to flick a header to Ben Yedder, who nodded in despite a desperate effort from David de Gea.

Finally, United started to attack and Lukaku pulled a goal back seven minutes from the end, but United never looked like scoring the three they needed for a dramatic turnaround as they crashed out of the competition.

United now only have the FA Cup to play for in terms of silverware - they're 9/4 favourites to win that competition but it remains to be seen whether even that will keep the critics off Mourinho's back.

No complaints from Mourinho

"The first goal will be always important in this match not just because of the first leg result but also because of the style of the match," Mourinho told BT Sport 2.

"We tried since the first minute to be aggressive and intense and I could find some similarities between the beginning of this game and against Liverpool last weekend, but then we didn't score and Sevilla progressively kept the ball and were quite confident having the ball and hiding the ball from us and controlling the game well.

"We had good periods. I wouldn't say we had great control of the game but I couldn't say my players had something wrong in terms of their attitude and their intention to play."

United followed Tottenham out of Europe following their Champions League exit to Juventus last week.

Mourinho, however, was philosophical about the Red Devil's trophy hopes this season, with the FA Cup now carrying all the weight of their lofty silverware expectations.

"A fantastic team like Tottenham has to do exactly the same as us," the Portuguese added.

"Liverpool has the Champions League but doesn't have the FA Cup. That's football, that's life. We lost and tomorrow is another day and Saturday is another match.

"Every player is sad and they don't hide that sadness. That is something that pleases me because I feel exactly the same but we have no time for dramas because on Saturday we have to work as we have an important match."

Roma find a way through

Also on Tuesday, Edin Dzeko's goal was enough to sent Roma through to the last eight as they edged past Shakhtar 1-0, progressing on away goals.

Dezko struck seven minutes into the second half when he broke free and poked his finish through the keeper's legs to put the Italians - who are 33/1 to win the Champions League - into the last eight.

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