Europa League: Sevilla Holds Manchester United To A 2-2 Draw

Late own goals from Tyrell Malacia and Harry Maguire secured a draw for Sevilla against Manchester United in the Europa Quarter-Finals first leg on Thursday.

United looked to have taken a big step toward the semifinals after Marcel Sabitzer scored two goals in the first half.

The home side was without 28-goal top scorer Marcus Rashford due to injury.

Sabitzer had scored only once for United in 12 previous appearances but twice pierced through the Sevilla defense with well-timed runs and composed finishes.

Anthony Martial’s return from injury is a timely boost for Erik Ten Hag with Rashford set to be sidelined for a few weeks.

The Frenchman has been a peripheral figure since the Dutchman took charge, but Ten Hag made it known on the eve of the game that his side plays their best football with Martial up front.

So it proved in the opening quarter as Martial had a hand in both of Sabitzer’s goals.

Martial’s hold-up play eventually saw the ball worked to Fernandes, who fired a ball into Sabitzer’s feet and the on-loan Bayern Munich midfielder coolly slotted past Bono.

Just a few moments later Sabitzer had his second. Martial was this time the creator with a perfect pass-through for Sabitzer to again leave Bono in the Sevilla goal with no chance.

Antony came closest to adding to United’s lead in the second half when the winger struck the inside of the post with Fernandes begging for a pass in a better position.

Malacia should also have done better when teed up by Wout Weghorst in acres of space inside the Sevilla box.

Ten Hag showed his thoughts were already turning to a trip to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Sunday as Fernandes and Martial made way in the final half-hour.

That decision proved costly as Malacia dallied to allow Jesus Navas to pounce inside the United box, the former Manchester City winger’s cross deflecting off the Dutch left-back to wrong-foot De Gea.

De Gea then produced a brilliant save to deny Youssef En-Nesyri an equalizer.

But United’s reprieve only lasted seconds as another En-Nesyri header cannoned off Maguire and into the net in the 92nd minute.