Cologne (AP) - Manchester United is in the semi-finals of the final tournament of the Europa League football in North Rhine-Westphalia. The third place in the English Premier League won against FC Copenhagen in the evening in Cologne with a struggle with a 1-0 (0-0) after extra time.
The Portuguese Bruno Fernandes scored the decisive goal with a penalty kick in the 95th minute. The Frenchman Anthony Martial had previously been brought down in the Danish penalty area. Due to the success, the team of coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer kept its chance for the second Europa League triumph after 2017.
With temperatures still high in the evening, both teams showed a tired performance. Initially, the Copenhagen team had more of the game with the former Cologne coach Ståle Solbakken. Only gradually did Man United live up to their role as favorites, but without convincing. After the opening goal of the English, FC Copenhagen had no strength left to counter again. The outstanding Karl-Johan Johnsson in the goal of the Danes prevented an even bigger defeat.
United meet the winner of the game Wolverhampton Wanderers against Sevilla FC in the semi-finals. The two teams will play against each other in Duisburg on Tuesday (9 p.m.). The semi-finals are on Sunday (9 p.m.) in Cologne, the final of the final round in North Rhine-Westphalia is also on August 21 in the Rhine metropolis.
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