Manchester United threw away a 2-0 lead in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final against Sevilla at Old Trafford on Thursday night, eventually drawing 2-2.
Marcel Sabitzer had given a vibrant United a dream start to the tie in the first half. But Sevilla struck back late on through two own goals from Tyrell Malacia and Harry Maguire to level things up.
United thought they had made an absolutely storming start when Jadon Sancho was put through on goal and clinically finished with just 27 seconds played, only to see an offside flag go up.
As it happened, the hosts continued that electric early tempo – the combinations between Sancho, Anthony Martial and Antony in those opening exchanges were particularly good – and it wasn’t before they actually took the lead with Sabitzer’s excellent first.
Bruno Fernandes fizzed the ball into the Austrian, whose willingness to be the furthest player forward made the 4-2-3-1 United system at times look more like 4-4-2. He took one touch to control and then lashed a left-footed shot high into the top corner from around 15 yards out.
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His second only a few minutes later was the result of another run beyond, found by Martial through the middle, followed by a clinical finished past the onrushing Bono.
Erik Lamela, who once managed to goad Martial into a red card during his Tottenham days, survived a VAR red card check in the closing stages of the first half when he made contact with Casemiro’s leg with his studs. Sevilla then had their best chance of the opening 45 minutes with an Ivan Rakitic free-kick that just missed the target following a harsh Bruno Fernandes handball decision.
United’s early dominance had actually faded by the time the half-time whistle sounded and Sevilla were inches away from getting one back when Raphael Varane headed off the line after David de Gea had parried a powerful header from Tanguy Nianzou up in the air.
Antony threatened a blistering start to the second half when he stepped inside and attempted a curling left-footed shot than didn’t bend quite enough. Sevilla did improve again towards the hour mark, but Antony then went even closer with a similar effort that struck the inside of the post.
In more or less full control, Erik ten Hag was able to make changes in the second half, managing the fitness of the likes of Martial and Sancho and getting more minutes into the legs of the returning Christian Eriksen and a few fringe players. Meanwhile, the ongoing battle between Antony and Sevilla right-back Marcos Acuna added some good-natured spice and entertainment.
United spurned a decent chance for a third in the closing stages as substitute Facundo Pellistri turned the ball into the box for fellow sub Wout Weghorst. Instead of spinning and shooting, the giant Dutchman laid off to Malacia, whose shot was blocked.
Having missed that one, Malacia turned the ball into his own net against the run of play. The Dutchman had been responsible for switching off to the danger behind him and, as Jesus Navas turned the ball back across the box, it struck Malacia and beat a dumbfounded De Gea.
That was with 84 minutes played, with Maguire unwittingly providing Sevilla’s second in stoppage time. Youssef En-Nesyri had already forced De Gea into a brilliant save to keep it at 2-1 and again rose highest to meet the ball in the air. His header was going miles wide until it struck Maguire in the face and ended up nestling in the net, much to the bemusement of the crowd.
Before the equaliser, a further blot for United was the loss of Lisandro Martinez to injury. The centre-back went down clutching his ankle with no one near him and seemed to be on the verge of tears as he was carried from the pitch by Argentina colleagues Acuna and Gonzalo Montiel. United fans and staff alike will be praying it wasn’t his Achilles that caused the problem.
Man Utd player ratings (4-2-3-1)
GK: David de Gea – 6/10 – Made top saves towards the end of each half but stood little chance with the two shock own goals.
RB: Aaron Wan-Bissaka – 6/10 – A decent performance and never really under much pressure.
CB: Raphael Varane – 7/10 – His last act before being withdrawn at half-time was an intelligent goal-line clearance with his head.
CB: Lisandro Martinez – 6/10 – Looked in genuine discomfort and distress when he went down late on with no one near him. Carried off the pitch.
LB: Tyrell Malacia – 5/10 – Had a decent game until switching off at the back post late on, a lapse that gave Sevilla a way back into the tie.
CM: Casemiro – 7/10 – His usual force at the base of midfield. Will come away from this one battered and bruised afetr studs to the leg and a boot to the face.
CM: Bruno Fernandes (c) – 8/10 – Came off with the game won and United cruising, having contributed massively to the 2-0 lead. Suspended for the next leg.
RM: Antony – 8/10 – An attacking threat, causing problems and hitting the post. Worked hard going the other way too and engaged in a good-spirited battle with opposing full-back Marcos Acuna.
AM: Marcel Sabitzer – 8/10 – Played his position so well and made the difference in the game by scoring two very well taken goals.
LM: Jadon Sancho – 7/10 – Had the ball in the net in 27 seconds, albeit disallowed, and looked generally bright in the first half in particular.
ST: Anthony Martial – 8/10 – A fully fit and motivated Martial is a very dangerous weapon, as was the case here. Played a big role in both of Sabitzer’s goals, directly assisting the second.
Substitutes
SUB: Harry Maguire (46′ for Varane) – 5/10
SUB: Wout Weghorst (62′ for Martial) – 5/10
SUB: Christian Eriksen (62′ for Fernandes) – 6/10
SUB: Anthony Elanga (63′ for Sancho) – 5/10
SUB: Facundo Pellistri (81′ for Antony) – 6/10
Manager
Erik ten Hag – 6/10 – Things began so well and he will likely be furious with the late collapse after he had withdrawn a number of the players who had started. Substitutions weakened the team.
