By Victor Kanayo
Manchester United on Thursday night, swiftly progressed to the quarter-final of the Europa League, after beating Real Betis 5-1 on aggregate in the round of 16.
The Red Devils, look set to dominate the European competition again, after they thrashed Spanish La Liga side 4-1 at Old Trafford in the first leg tie.
Coach Erik Ten Hag-led football outfit, completed the haul with 1-0 win in the return leg.
In-form England striker, Marcus Rashford scored the only goal.
Trailing by three goals after the first leg at Old Trafford a week ago, Betis needed an improbable result back in Seville to reach the last eight. The side fifth in LaLiga threw everything at their Premier League opponents but couldn’t find the breakthrough, thanks to a series of saves from David de Gea.
Rashford then killed off any hope of a miraculous comeback in the 55th minute, firing in a superb strike from almost 30 yards.
The goal was Rashford’s 25th in European competition for Man United, putting him sixth on the club’s all-time list and one clear of Cristiano Ronaldo’s tally.
With his 26th goal in all competitions this season, the 25-year-old is now third among players from Europe’s top five leagues, behind only Man City’s Erling Haaland (39) and Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe (31).
United, already winners of the Carabao Cup and with an FA Cup quarter-final to come against Fulham on Sunday, will now await their Europa League last eight opponent in Friday’s draw.
In the same night, English Premier League leaders Arsenal, were sent out of the continental competition, after Sporting Lisbon won 5-3 on penalties at the Emirates after a 1-1 draw in the second leg clash, which meant(3-3 on aggregate).
Mikel Areta’s Gunners, looked in control when Granit Xhaka gave them a 19th-minute lead on the night and a 3-2 advantage on aggregate.
But the red half of North London was silenced, when Pedro Goncalves netted a wonder-strike from 46 yards to beat the despairing dive of Aaron Ramsdale.
