COLOGNE: Manchester United made it an unwanted hat trick of semifinal defeats this season after losing 2-1 in the Europa League to Sevilla on Sunday (Monday in Manila). After losing in the last four of the Football Association Challenge (FA) Cup and English Football League (EFL) Cup, United failed to convert a string of chances before Luuk de Jong scored the winning goal for Europa League experts Sevilla. United will look to the new English Premier League season next month after a marathon coronavirus-extended campaign, which saw defender Harry Maguire play 55 games. United was beaten 3-2 on aggregate by Manchester City in January in a two-leg EFL Cup semifinal and 3-1 by Chelsea in the FA Cup semifinals in July. After seeing those chances stopped, United lost some of its intensity, allowing Sevilla to get back in the game and score the winning goal.

Source: Manila Times August 17, 2020 16:30 UTC