Villarreal were looking pretty solid with their 1-0 lead in this game, so it was always going to come down to the old cliche of a mistake, a bit of luck or a moment of magic to get Man United level.
In the end it was a bit of luck that came their way as the ball bounced the way of Edinson Cavani, and of course it was him who would drag United back into the game:
Scrutiny will be on Solskjaer when making these crucial calls ahead of kick off against the Spanish side in Gdansk on Wednesday night. United are looking for their first silverware under the Norwegian, and since they won the Europa league in 2017.
Greenwood roasts Pedraza on the right side of the area and hammers a cross towards the near post. It hits Albiol in a very personal space, a very private space, and ricochets into the arms of Rulli. With Cavani behind him, that was vital defending from Albiol. He didn’t know much about it, though the wince on his face suggests he knows plenty about it now.
David de Gea deserves to start and so does Axel Tuanzebe. Tuanzebe has started in three of the last four games and has been more composed than Eric Bailly. It is a big call – provided Maguire is out – but Bailly’s experience is not a compelling enough case to give him the edge over Tuanzebe.
Scott McTominay and Fred will come back in and Mason Greenwood merits a place in the front four. Marcus Rashford will probably get the nod on the right but Greenwood is the more suitable option and has been in better form.
Shaw’s free-kick is headed back across goal by Pogba to McTominay. He is challenged but does really well to keep the ball alive and hit a shot on the turn that is deflected over for a corner.
Shaw’s corner was headed away to Fernandes, 25 yards out. His volley was blocked and deflected to Cavani, who rolled it into the empty net. Rulli had already dived in an attempt to save Fernandes’s volley.
There was a big wait for VAR to comet hrough with their check as it was a tight call, but it’s game on and United will fancy their chances of going on to win now.
Cavani Scores Amazing Goal for Manchester united equalizing 1-1 #EuropaLeagueFinal @NastyKevo pic.twitter.com/jfuf69F7oC
— Kevo Nasty (@NastyKevo) May 26, 2021