Synopsis
On January 31, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur secured their spots in the UEFA Europa League round of 16. United achieved a 2-0 victory against FCSB, while Spurs triumphed 3-0 over Elfsborg, ensuring their progression through the group stage.Key Takeaways
- Manchester United wins 2-0 against FCSB.
- Tottenham wins 3-0 against Elfsborg.
- Both teams qualify for the Europa League round of 16.
- Match draw scheduled for February 21.
- Round of 16 matches to commence on March 6.
London, Jan 31 (NationPress) Manchester United has advanced to the last 16 of the UEFA Europa League after securing a 2-0 victory against FCSB during the eighth and final matchday of the league phase.
Two goals scored within eight minutes in the second half were sufficient for the win, with Diogo Dalot netting the opener at Romania's National Arena at the hour mark.
Having provided the assist for that goal, Kobbie Mainoo quickly added to the scoreline shortly after, as the Reds delivered a composed performance to please their traveling supporters in Bucharest.
This result allowed Ruben Amorim's team to finish third in the standings, earning them a spot among the top eight clubs that will bypass February's knockout round play-offs and proceed directly to March's round of 16.
In contrast, Tottenham Hotspur secured their place in the round of 16 with a win over Elfsborg on Thursday night.
Three goals in the second half guaranteed a top-eight finish for Ange Postecoglou's team. Dane Scarlett came off the bench to give the hosts the lead with a header before assisting 19-year-old Oyindamola Ajayi for a goal on his debut, doubling their lead.
Mikey Moore, aged 17, capped off the win with a brilliant solo effort, embarking on an impressive run and finishing with a low shot in stoppage time.
With a convincing 3-0 victory against the Swedish side, Spurs concluded the group stage with 17 points, securing 4th place and automatically qualifying for the last 16.
The draw for the round of 16 is scheduled for February 21. The matches will consist of two legs, with the first leg on March 6 and the second leg on March 13.
The eight teams confirmed for the round of 16 include Athletic Club, Eintracht Frankfurt, Lazio, Lyon, Manchester United, Olympiacos, Rangers, and Tottenham.
Teams that will participate in the knockout phase play-offs are:
Ajax, Anderlecht, Bodo/Glimt, FCSB, Galatasaray, Real Sociedad, Roma, and Viktoria Plzen.
Unseeded teams in the knockout phase play-offs include:
AZ Alkmaar, Fenerbahce, Ferencvaros, Midtjylland, PAOK, Porto, Twente, and Union SG.
Teams confirmed as eliminated include Besiktas, Braga, Dynamo Kyiv, Elfsborg, Hoffenheim, Ludogorets, Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Malmo, Nice, Qarabag, RFS, and Slavia Praha.
