MAN UTD 2, LASK 1
(United won 7-1 on aggregate)
Manchester United squad players failed to impress in this Europa League dead rubber against Austrian side LASK at Old Trafford.
With victory assured after winning 5-0 away, the return was an opportunity for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to give much-needed game time to his fringe players.
But United’s manager was left disappointed as nobody staked a claim for a place in the quarter-final against FC Copenhagen in Cologne on Monday.
In the end, Solskjaer had to summon Anthony Martial from the bench to come up with a late winner for the Reds.
United fell behind early in the second half to a wonder strike from Philipp Weisinger but hit back with goals from Jesse Lingard and Martial.
LASK had more goal attempts – 12 to nine – and the indifferent display only served to underline United’s lack of quality in reserve, something which will need addressing if the Reds are to become a force again in English football.
Embed from Getty ImagesSolskjaer said: “We learned the players need to play to keep that sharpness. Some of these lads haven’t played for a while and it showed.
“It is that sharpness you lack when you don’t play regularly. Some haven’t played since lockdown, for me it was a good exercise. It’s job done, minutes under the belt and on to Copenhagen.
“We won, we gave a debut to a young lad, it’s been a good night.”
And of debutant Teden Mengi, an 18-year-old defender, he added: “He is a leader, a centre-back, someone we believe in. He’s strong, quick, good on the ball and I think we’ve got a decent player there.”
On the availability of Victor Lindelof for the quarter-final, Solskjaer said: “Victor should be OK to travel.
“It’s great to get Eric (Bailly) through a game again. He’s had his ups and downs with injuries.”
Solskjaer made two changes to the side which defeated LASK 5-0 in the first leg.
Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Jesse Lingard started in place of Luke Shaw and Bruno Fernandes.
Fernandes, Paul Pogba, Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood were among the names on the bench.
The substitutes also included Mengi, 19-year-old midfielder James Garner and 20-year-old winger Tahith Chong.
Harry Maguire and Brandon Williams were the only two survivors from the side that won at Leicester City on the final day of the Premier League campaign.
There were four changes for LASK from the first leg, as Andres Andrade, Wiesinger, Marko Raguz and Husein Balic came in.
And pre-match Solskjaer said: “Winning the Europa League would be “massive” and a “big step forward” for United.
“When I won my first trophy as a player it made me more hungry,” he said.
“The team has developed through the season and we are delighted at finishing third in the Premier League.
“If we can get our hands on a trophy it’s a big step forward.”
United, wearing their new home kit for the first time, made a bright start with Maguire heading over from a Juan Mata corner in the fourth minute.
The Austrians, however, almost snatched a 10th minute lead from a corner when Andrade headed against the crossbar and Wiesinger, following up, fired narrowly wide.
And they went close again just short of the half hour when Marko Raguz glanced a header narrowly wide from a left-wing cross by Rene Renner.
Reds’ goalkeeper Sergio Romero then made a smart save low to his left to keep out a 22-yard drive from Raguz.
United had to wait until five minutes into the second half before registering their first on-target goal attempt, Odion Ighalo forcing an easy diving save from Alexander Schlager.
It was no surprise when the visitors took a 55th minute lead when a corner was cleared to Wiesinger who found the top corner from more than 25 yards with a drive on the run. What a way for the 26-year-old to score his first European goal.
It had to be something special as it was also the first goal the Reds had conceded at Old Trafford in this season’s Europa League.
United were lucky not to be 2-0 behind moments later when the dangerous Wiesinger fired narrowly wide.
The goal finally sparked United to life and they were level two minutes and 38 seconds later when Lingard, released by Mata, sped clear and slotted the ball low past Schlager.
It was Lingard’s fourth goal of the season and his fourth goal in European football for the Reds.
United made a double change mid-half as Lingard and Fred made way for Andreas Pereira and Pogba.
LASK were unlucky not to regain the lead when substitute Dominik Reiter forced a decent stop from Romero.
Tahith Chong became the third Reds’ change when he replaced Williams at left back.
Scott McTominay ought to have put the Reds ahead but dragged his shot wide after being set up by Chong.
United made their last two changes in the 84th minute when Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Daniel James made way for Mengi and Martial.
Fosu-Mensah had become the 36th player used by the Reds in the Europa League, a record for the competition in one season and Mengi later became number 37.
Martial quickly made his mark and within four minutes had given United an undeserved lead.
Mata provided the assist with a precision through ball for Martial to slot home. Schlager got a touch but the ball trickled in for the striker’s 23rd goal of the season.
LASK almost made it 2-2 when Reinhold Ranftl fired narrowly wide.
Martial almost added a second and United’s third when he was denied by the legs of Schlager.
The defiant Austrians fought to the end and in the third of three added minutes a cheeky flick from Ranftl forced a fine reflex save from Romero.