London (AFP)

Large winner in the first leg in Austria (5-0), Manchester United did not have to force their talent on Wednesday to secure their place in the quarter-finals of the Europa League against the Austrian club LASK (2-1).

It took almost five months, to a week or so, for the Red Devils to finish the job, the Covid-19 pandemic requires.

But in just five days, it is the Danes of Copenhagen, who eliminated the Turks of Istanbul Basksehir (0-1, 3-0), who will stand in their way for a quarter in a single match, in Cologne, in accordance with to the new formula of the Europa League this year.

Mancunian coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made it clear that he did not fear much of the Austrians, outclassed at home in March, by starting a B team.

No Paul Pogba, Bruno Fernandes, Mason Greenwood, Anthony Martial or Marcus Rashford on the pitch at kick-off. Even David De Gea had left his place in the cages to Sergio Romero.

The Austrians, however, decided that this prestigious trip to Old Trafford would also be a match for honor and, from the 10th minute, they were very close to opening the scoring.

On a poorly cleared corner, Andres Andrade sent the ball with his head on the crossbar, before Philipp Wiesinger crossed too much a low shot.

Wiesinger consoled himself at the same minute of the second half, again on a poorly cleared corner which came back to him 28 meters from the goal.

With a strike from the left while relaxed, he wrapped the ball towards the left top of Romero largely beaten (0-1, 55th).

Unfortunately for Linz players, a good call from Jessie Lingard, very well served by Juan Mata, offered a quick equalizer in Manchester (1-1, 57th).

And after the entries of Pogba and Martial, the latter, again served by Mata, even offered the symbolic victory to his family three minutes from the end (2-1, 88th).

© 2020 AFP