Two late own goals helped six-time winners Sevilla shock Man United at Old Trafford as they mounted a two-goal comeback to rescue a draw.
The hosts started brightly and had the ball in the net in the opening 30 seconds, but Jadon Sancho’s effort was ruled out for offside.
The speed with which United broke for that gave Sevilla a warning of what was to come. With 14 minutes gone a neat passing move culminated in Bruno Fernandes’ slide-rule pass picking out Marcel Sabitzer on the edge of the area. The Austrian international controlled it superbly with his right foot, before rifling a left-footed strike that deflected off Marcão and looped into the net.
Seven minutes later and the midfielder had doubled his, and the Red Devils’ tally on the night. Anthony Martial, making his first start in three months, was instrumental in the home side’s quick counter, eventually providing the defence-splitting pass for Sabitzer to advance and coolly place his shot out of reach of the advancing Bounou.
The visitors rarely tested David de Gea in the first half, but Tanguy Nianzou’s powerful header from an Ivan Rakitić corner just before the break found the goalkeeper in excellent form.
Erik ten Hag’s men were unable to replicate their first-half intensity after the break but could have added a third shortly after the hour, Antony’s spectacular strike after cutting in from the right cannoning back off the post.
Sevilla burst into life late on and halved their deficit when substitute Jesús Navas sent in a low centre that struck Tyrell Malacia and then De Gea on its way into the roof of the net.
The introduction of top scorer Youssef En-Nesyri had given the visitors an outlet in the penalty area, the substitute brilliantly denied by the home goalkeeper moments later.
Sevilla kept coming and Lucas Ocampos’ high, hanging ball from the right in added time was perfect for En-Nesyri to attack. The Moroccan international’s powerful header deflected off the unfortunate Harry Maguire and wrong-footed De Gea, giving the visitors an unlikely draw to take back to Spain.
Reaction
Erik ten Hag, Manchester United manager, speaking to BT Sport: “We had the game in hand. We were 2-0 up and should have scored three or four – the game was totally on us. Unlucky moments with injuries, we had to make some subs, then we lost control. We conceded two own goals, that’s bad luck but we have to deal with it. We have to learn and have to kill the game but everything is open for next week.”
Marcel Sabitzer, Manchester United midfielder, speaking to BT Sport: “It was a rollercoaster game. We had to finish it off and at the end it’s a draw and it’s not what we wanted. We had the chances. We controlled the game but unfortunately we gave easy goals away. We cannot concede these kinds of goals and we’re really disappointed now.”
Harry Maguire, Manchester United defender, speaking to UEFA.com: “We defended pretty well, showed good spirit and good character and it looked like we were going to see the game out. And then something really unfortunate happened and we ended up drawing the game 2-2, but it’s all still to play for next week. We’ve got to go there with good tempo and good intensity. We have to go there and give everything.”
José Luis Mendilibar, Sevilla coach: “We were playing better in the second half, we’d managed to control them a bit more. It’s as we said at half-time: with one goal we get back in the tie and we were strong enough to keep going and to take our chances.”
Erik Lamela, Sevilla forward, speaking to BT Sport: “We stayed in the game to the end and this team will fight. We will always fight. We always had the belief. It’s an important thing that we showed personality to play until the end at a very difficult stadium against very good opponents. We’re going to play at home with our amazing fans [and] have a great opportunity to show everybody we are alive.”
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