Bruno Fernandes enchanted Manchester United’s fans once again in orchestrating the team’s smooth passage into the last 16 of the Europa League at Old Trafford on Thursday.
Inter Milan also advanced, despite no supporters being allowed inside San Siro to see Italian side's win.
On a night when Portugal’s three traditional top teams - Porto, Benfica and Sporting Lisbon - were all eliminated, one of the country’s recent exports took top billing as Fernandes continued to prove the 80 million euros ($88 million) he might end up costing United should be money well spent.
Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes, left, and Brugge's Simon Deli run for the ball during the round of 32 second leg Europa League soccer match between Manchester United and Brugge at Old Trafford in Manchester, England, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020. (AP PhotoDave Thompson)
The playmaker stroked home a penalty following his signature skipping run-up, then had a hand in United’s two other first-half goals in a 5-0 win over 10-man Club Brugge in the second leg of the round of 32. Fernandes had already left the field, to a huge ovation, by the time Fred added the fourth and fifth goals to complete a 6-1 aggregate win.
Fernandes had made a seamless transition to the Premier League following his January move from Sporting, scoring and assisting in United’s win over Watford at the weekend.
Brugge was the architect of its downfall, with defender Simon Deli getting red-carded for handling a shot with a goalkeeper-like save to hand Fernandes his penalty chance in the 27th minute. Odion Ighalo scored his first goal for United to make it 2-0 before Scott McTominay added the third.
Benfica's Pizzi reacts after a missed chance to score during the Europa League round of 32 second leg soccer match between SL Benfica and Shakhtar Donetsk at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020. (AP PhotoArmando Franca)
Inter beat Ludogorets 2-1 in an empty stadium as a precaution because of the virus outbreak in Italy. The voices of the players could be heard clearly in a game that saw Inter score through Cristiano Biraghi and Romelu Lukaku and progress 4-1 on aggregate.
Benfica led the Portuguese exodus, drawing 3-3 at home to Shakhtar Donetsk to go out 5-4 on aggregate. Porto lost 3-1 at home to Bayer Leverkusen to be eliminated 5-2 on aggregate, while Sporting failed to protect a 3-1 lead from the first leg against Istanbul Basaksehir, losing the return match 4-1.
Ajax, a Champions League semifinalist last season, is out of Europe altogether before the end of February this time despite beating Getafe 2-1. The Spanish team went through 3-2 on aggregate.
Sevilla, a winner of Europe’s second-tier competition five times in the last 14 years, is making another run at the trophy, advancing on away goals - 1-1 on aggregate - after a 0-0 draw with CFR Cluj.
Wolverhampton and Roma advanced, while Arsenal was being taken to extra time by Olympiakos, trailing the Greek side 1-0 after 90 minutes.
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Steve Douglas is at www.twitter.com/sdouglas80