FC ROSTOV 1, MANCHESTER UNITED 1 (Europa League Round of 16)
- Henrikh Mkhitaryan gives United a vital away goal after 35 minutes.
- Aleksandr Bukharov levels the tie in the 53rd minute after poor defending.
Jose Mourinho will consider Manchester United to be lucky to be returning home from the game against FC Rostov with an away goal, no reported injuries, and a fighting chance to progress to the quarter finals of the Europa League.
The onus will be on the Russians to score again at Old Trafford after a 1-1 draw which leaves the tie finely balanced but the Reds have a vital away goal.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan scored the all-important away goal as Manchester United survived an agricultural ‘field’ at the Olimp-2 stadium to open the scoring after 35 minutes, sidefooting home a square pass by Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The game was hardly a classic, with the wind playing a part along with the poor pitch in cold conditions, and Rostov looked ineffective but the Russians pounced on a mistake in the second half to level up the tie.
Aleksandr Bukharov took full advantage of some very pedestrian defending by Phil Jones and Chris Smalling to beat the offside trap after chesting down a long ball from midfield by Timofei Kalachev in the 53rd minute to slot the ball past Sergio Romero.
It was United’s first goal conceded in the Europa League for 443 minutes despite fielding a much changed team in Russia.
Jose Mourinho had opted for seven changes, with only Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo, Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic retaining their places from the game against Bournemouth at the weekend.
Ibrahimovic had earlier accepted an FA violent conduct charge and was subsequently punished with a three match domestic ban for his part in events during the Bournemouth game.
The Swede will be available for the return leg next Thursday, being unable to help the Reds when they go to Stamford Bridge on Monday to play in the FA Cup quarter finals.
And Zlatan could be the key man when United return to Old Trafford next Thursday.