Manchester United booked their place within the Europa League final 16 with a 2-0 win at Romanian aspect FCSB, whereas troubled Tottenham turned to their younger weapons to advance by way of a top-eight end on Thursday. Diogo Dalot and Kobbie Mainoo scored for United within the second half of their ultimate league part fixture on the National Arena in Bucharest. In north London, under-pressure Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou was relieved to see Dane Scarlett, Damola Ajayi and Mikey Moore kill off Swedish minnows Elfsborg with their first objectives for the membership in a 3-0 victory.
United, unbeaten in eight video games within the event, completed in third place and Tottenham got here fourth, making certain the Premier League golf equipment each prevented the Europa League play-off spherical.
The prime eight routinely progress to the final 16, the place they are going to be seeded in opposition to the winners of eight two-leg knockout play-off ties that includes the golf equipment ranked from ninth to twenty fourth.
Ruben Amorim’s aspect prolonged their current enchancment to 1 defeat in seven video games in all competitions with a 3rd successive victory for the primary time this season.
United have been patchy within the first half however Amorim despatched on Amad Diallo and Alejandro Garnacho on the break they usually helped flip the tide.
United lastly took the lead within the sixtieth minute when Mainoo guided a harmful low cross into the six-yard field and Dalot timed his run to fit residence with ease.
Daniel Birligea virtually hauled FCSB stage instantly with a thunderous strike that almost crossed the road after hitting the bar.
But Mainoo’s composed end from Garnacho’s cutback within the 68th minute put the outcome past doubt.
“More than the win is to have time to coach and have time to get better the gamers,” Amorim mentioned of United avoiding the play-offs.
“The lads did an excellent job however now we have to know the opponent will not be with all due respect the identical stage because the Premier League. We wish to enhance rather a lot with the way in which we play.”
Spurs children raise the gloom
At the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, it took three of the membership’s promising academy graduates to raise the gloom.
Tottenham are languishing in fifteenth place within the Premier League, eight factors above the relegation zone after profitable simply one in all their previous 11 top-flight matches.
Last weekend’s defeat in opposition to fellow strugglers Leicester condemned Tottenham to their longest winless streak within the league since 2008.Â
Postecoglou admitted he isn’t positive of his job standing after followers jeered the workforce and known as for chairman Daniel Levy to give up throughout the Leicester debacle.Â
Tottenham misplaced centre-back Radu Dragusin to a knee downside as their harm woes mounted within the second half, however his alternative Scarlett ended Elfsborg’s resistance within the seventieth minute.
Dejan Kulusevski’s cross picked out Scarlett and the 20-year-old striker headed residence, simply days after getting back from a mortgage spell at second-tier Oxford.
Ajayi, 19, had solely been on the pitch 4 minutes when he transformed Scarlett’s go to mark his debut in fashion within the 84th minute, and there was nonetheless time for Moore, 17, to strike in stoppage time.
“It was ‘Made in Tottenham’. It’s good, the entire academy must be proud,” Postecoglou mentioned.
“We wanted one thing tonight and the younger lads stepped up. I’m positive they will not sleep as a result of they’re fairly excited.”
Scottish aspect Rangers made it to the final 16 after climbing to eighth place with a 2-1 win in opposition to Belgium’s Union Saint-Gilloise at Ibrox.
Nicolas Raskin and Vaclav Cerny scored for Rangers earlier than Kevin Mac Allister’s reply arrange a tense finale.
Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce scraped into the play-offs, ending in twenty fourth place — above Braga on purpose distinction — after a 2-2 draw at Midtjylland.
Lazio got here prime of the league part regardless of a 1-0 defeat at Braga, whereas Athletic Bilbao beat Viktoria Plzen 3-1 to safe second place.
Fifth-placed Eintracht Frankfurt, sixth-placed Lyon and seventh-placed Olympiakos comprise the remainder of the highest eight.
Roma secured a play-off place, beating Frankfurt 2-0 by way of objectives from Angelino and Eldor Shomurodov.
