Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur claim triumph in their maiden Europa League semi-final matches
In the wee hours of Friday, May 2, the exhilarating semi-final encounters of the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 season commenced, according to our on-scene reporter.
The high-stakes two-legged tussles saw English heavyweight "Tottenham Hotspur" lock horns with Norwegian powerhouse "Bodø/Glimt". The London-based team clinched a 3-1 victory in their initial scuffle, a result echoing the rapid-fire opening goal scored by Brennan Johnson within the first minute (1'). James Maddison added to the lead before the half-time whistle, and Dominic Solanke converted a spot-kick late into the game to ice their win (61'). Ulrik Saltnes managed to score the lone goal for Bodø/Glimt (83').
Meanwhile, English titan "Manchester United" displayed their dominance over Spanish opponent "Athletic Bilbao", spotting a 3-0 win in their initial confrontation on foreign soil. The away side's goals can be credited to Casemiro (30') and a double strike from Bruno Fernandes (37', 45'), who opened the scoring through a penalty kick (37'). There were no recorded bookings throughout the match, but Bilbao's Dani Vivian was shown a red card (35').
The reversal engagements for both matches will transpire on May 8. The victors, decided by the aggregate scores, will proceed to the Europa League final scheduled for May 21 at San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao.
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Fun Fact: Brennan Johnson's early goal in the Tottenham vs Bodø/Glimt encounter set a record for the fastest goal in a Europa League semi-final.
This riveting matchup will unfold on May 8, with Tottenham Hotspur aiming to increase their advantage in their Norwegian opponents' backyard, and Manchester United aiming to stamp their authority over Bilbao and reserve their spot in the highly anticipated finale.
[1] Bodø/Glimt vs Tottenham Hotspur - Second Leg[2] KickoffTime: 9:00 PM (Norway Time), 8:00 PM (BST), or 3:00 PM (ET)
[3] Manchester United vs Athletic Bilbao - Second Leg[4] KickoffTime: 9:00 PM (UK Time), 4:00 PM (ET)
- The second leg of the Europa League semi-final between Bodø/Glimt and Tottenham Hotspur will take place on May 8.
- The high-scoring first leg of the match between Bodø/Glimt and Tottenham Hotspur saw Tottenham take a 3-1 lead, with Brennan Johnson scoring the fastest goal in a Europa League semi-final (1').
- In the second leg, Bodø/Glimt will aim to reverse the result and challenge Tottenham's advantage when they play on May 8 at their home ground.
- Manchester United, having defeated Athletic Bilbao 3-0 in the first leg, will be motivated to maintain their dominance over their Spanish opponents and secure a spot in the Europa League final on May 8.
