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Mixed fortunes for Man United and Tottenham in the Europa League

What a season Zlatan Ibrahimovic is having. It's only February and the 35-year-old has banged in 23...
TodayFM
TodayFM

10:24 PM - 16 Feb 2017



Mixed fortunes for Man United...

Sport

Mixed fortunes for Man United and Tottenham in the Europa League

TodayFM
TodayFM

10:24 PM - 16 Feb 2017



What a season Zlatan Ibrahimovic is having. It's only February and the 35-year-old has banged in 23 goals for Man United.

The most recent three brought up his first hattrick for the club, and has put United within touching distance of the last 16 in the Europe League, with a 3-0 win against Saint Etienne.

All the talk before the game was about the Pogba-derby, but as he often does, Zlatan made this game all about himself.

He probably hasn't scored many uglier goals in his career, but there won't be a Manchester United fan who cared how his first goal crossed the line.

Marouane Fellaini made a nuisance of himself in the wall, and it appeared to work as Ibrahimovic's free kick was deflected into the far corner, eventually crossing the line after an almost slow-motion journey to the corner.

Eventually with 15 minutes left United finally got the cushion of a second goal. Marcus Rashford did the hard work, breaking down the wing and driving in a low cross, which was parried straight to the Swede to tap in.

And as the clock hit 88 minutes he was brought down in the area, smashing the resulting penalty into the bottom corner.

Considering United have claimed just one win in their last eight away games in Europe, the late goals will be a major relief heading into next Wednesday's return leg at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.


Tottenham are in a huge scrap with Arsenal, Liverpool, Man City and Man United for a top four place in the Premier League, but despite this Mauricio Pochettino was clearly taking their Europa League duty seriously.

Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Mousa Dembele and Toby Alderweireld were all included in a strong starting 11 for their first leg this evening in Belgium, but despite having such an impressive team on the pitch, Spurs were handed a sobering 1-0 defeat against Gent in Belgium.

Early in the second half Harry Kane almost broke the deadlock, turning quickly just inside the area before seeing his snap shot flick off the outside the post.

And just as it looked like Spurs were gaining control, they were sucker-punched. Jeremy Perbet's shot was initially blocked by Ben Davies, but the ball fell kindly for the Frenchman, who volleyed it into the bottom corner, sealing Gent's first ever win against an English side.

1-0 is far from a disaster for Spurs, who will probably still be favourites to advance to the last 16 of the tournament when they bring the Belgians back to Wembley.

However they'll need to improve on their recent for at Wembley, having lost two of their three Champions League group games there earlier this season. 



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