MANCHESTER UNITED’S WAIT for their first trophy under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer continues after David De Gea saw his spot-kick saved at the end of a wild shootout that saw Villarreal crowned Europa League champions.
The Man United players console David De Gea after the defeat.
Source: PA
On this day 22 years ago, the Norwegian wrote himself into club folklore when turning home at the death as Alex Ferguson’s side fought back to win the Champions League and complete the treble.
But May 26, 2021 did not provide another triumphant chapter in United’s success-laden story, with the match ending 1-1 and going to a penalty shootout after Edinson Cavani cancelled out Gerard Moreno’s opener.
Gerard Moreno celebrates putting Villarreal in front.
Source: Janek Skarzynski
All outfield players scored their spot-kicks, as did Villarreal goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli before saving De Gea’s penalty to win the shootout 11-10 and secure the first major trophy in their history.
It was a heartbreaking end to a promising season for United, who finished as Premier League runners-up and showed clear signs of progress.
But defending set-pieces has been a problem throughout and Moreno opened the scoring when all too easily meeting Dani Parejo’s terrific free-kick.
Cavani levelled early in the second half after Marcus Rashford’s volley fell kindly for him from close range and Villarreal clung on for extra-time, which Unai Emery’s men edged before triumphing on penalties.
Villarreal’s success-starved fans went wild at Stadion Gdansk, where you would not know there were only 9,500 in attendance given the din throughout.
The Red Devils saw a bright start peter out, with reported United target Pau Torres heading over from Carlos Bacca’s outrageous rabona cross.
Luke Shaw fizzed a dangerous cross in at the other end and Rashford saw a hopeful long-range strike saved but United were stuttering and Villarreal went ahead from a 29th-minute free-kick.
Moreno peeled off Shaw as Parejo’s ball came in, with Victor Lindelof caught out by the Spanish sharpshooter’s run behind him as he directed past De Gea – selected instead of Dean Henderson – to send the wall of yellow wild.
Solskjaer was fuming on the touchline and his mood did not improve with United’s meek response.
Raul Albiol almost turned a Mason Greenwood cross into his own net in stoppage time and United returned early for the second half, which started with ex-Villarreal defender Eric Bailly almost putting his team in trouble.
But United were far improved on the whole after half-time. The video assistant referee decided against awarding a penalty for Alfonso Pedraza’s challenge on Greenwood and Solskjaer’s side levelled in the 55th minute.
Scott McTominay saw a strike blocked behind for a corner, which was swung over by Shaw and cleared only as far as Rashford on the edge of the box.
The volley ricocheted off Pedraza and McTominay, wrongfooting goalkeeper Rulli as Cavani reacted quickest to turn home from six yards.
The veteran took the ball and ran straight back to the halfway line, with the goal awarded after a lengthy VAR check for offside in the build-up.