© AP
On Thursday, the UEFA Europa League semi-final stage kicked off. The place in the final has practically been secured by "Manchester United" team, which at home defeated "Roma" 6-2. The "Red Devils" started the match very successfully - already in the 9th minute after a great combination, Bruno Fernandes sent the ball into the net. However, "Roma" leveled the score in the 15th minute - Lorenzo Pellegrini converted a penalty kick. The visitors struck another blow to the hosts in the 34th minute - Edin Džeko scored in the 34th minute. Interestingly, "Roma" had to make three forced substitutions in the first half. "Man Utd" started the second half with a lightning-fast goal, when Edinson Cavani scored a great goal in the 48th minute. The same Uruguayan player put his team ahead in the 64th minute. In the 71st minute, E. Cavani was brought down in the penalty area, and Bruno Fernandes converted the penalty kick. Just four minutes later, B. Fernandes found Paul Pogba in the penalty area with a great pass, and he headed the ball into the goal. Mason Greenwood scored the final goal in the 86th minute of the match.
The first semi-final match unfolded differently for another English team, London's "Arsenal". The "Gunners" had to acknowledge the superiority of "Villarreal" with a score of 1-2 in the away match. The hosts broke ahead already in the 5th minute after a goal by Manuel Trigueros. In the 29th minute, "Villarreal" doubled their lead through Raul Albiol. To make matters worse, "Arsenal" was reduced to ten men in the 57th minute, when Dani Ceballos was sent off the field for a second yellow card. Despite being a man down, the "Gunners" managed to narrow the gap - Nicolas Pepe converted a penalty kick in the 73rd minute. The match ended with both teams on equal terms - in the 80th minute, "Villarreal" defender Etienne Capoue was also sent off the field.
