MAN UNITED 2, SEVILLA 2
It’s advantage to Sevilla for a place in the semi-finals of the Europa League after Manchester United suffered a disastrous finish to the opening leg of their last-eight tie.
Own goals from Tyrell Malacia and Harry Maguire in the 84th and 92nd minutes saw the Spanish side come from behind to snatch the unlikeliest of draws.
Unlikely because after 21 minutes United had established a two-goal lead through two excellent strikes from Bayern Munich loanee Marcel Sabitzer.
At that stage, Sevilla, languishing in a lowly 13th place in La Liga, looked there for the taking and United would record a landslide victory which would have made the second leg a dead rubber.
But the Spaniards showed why they are six times Europa League winners as they hung in and then delivered a deadly double late strike.
And to make it an even more gloomy night, there was also the sight of Lisandro Martinez disappearing down the tunnel on a stretcher with what appears a serious ankle injury.
Embed from Getty ImagesUnited manager Erik ten Hag said: “We controlled the game and had to score a third goal and had a big chance to do so.
“In the last 10 minutes everything went against us, and we have to be more smart and learn from them.
“We were unlucky with two deflections. Sometimes you have bad days and bad luck, and tonight was nor our night. We have to accept it and move on.”
Sabitzer said: “I have problems finding the right words. It was like a rollercoaster game. We had to finish the game off and at the end it’s a draw and it’s not what we wanted.
“We had the chances [to finish the game off]. We controlled the game but, unfortunately, we gave easy goals away. We cannot concede these kinds of goals and we’re really disappointed.
“In a competition like this you have to be focused until the end. The last minutes were a bit strange. Two stupid goals. That’s not what we wanted. When you are 2-0 up at home you have to get it done.”
Sevilla coach Jose Luis Mendilibar thought his side may even have snatched victory, describing it as a great result.
He said: “When we equalised, and they were without Martinez, we had opportunities to win the game.
“The first 30 minutes were poor for us and great for them. We couldn’t put together four passes.
“We said at half time if we scored one we would be back in the tie. Bit by bit they stopped creating danger and they became scared when we equalised.”
Mendilibar added: “This club has a soul and belief in this competition. It is crazy, happy in the changing room as the players believe in what we want to do.
“People respect Sevilla in this competition. We have to take advantage as it is a plus point in the competition.”
Striker Anthony Martial started for the first time since February 14 as ten Hag replaced injured England man Marcus Rashford.
Raphael Varane partnered Martinez in central defence and Casemiro was available again after the Brazil midfielder completed his four-match domestic suspension.
Scott McTominay was ruled out through injury and Luke Shaw still absent while Christian Eriksen was on the bench.
Former Tottenham forward Eric Lamela led the Sevilla attack, while there was another familiar face in 35-year-old Croatia midfielder Ivan Rakitic, who skippered the visitors, who beat United in the 2020 semi-final.
On the bench for Sevilla were United left back Alex Telles, former Manchester City pair Jesus Navas and Karim Rekik and ex-Spurs’ player Bryan Gil and Suso, once of Liverpool.
United almost made a dream start as they found the net after only 27 seconds only for Jadon Sancho’s effort to be ruled out for offside.
The move stemmed from a poor clearance from keeper Yassine Bounou with Antony threading a pass to release Sancho.
Bounou made amends with a splendid save to turn Antony’s shot around the post.
The Reds were rewarded for their positive start by taking 14th minute lead.
Bruno Fernandes split the Spanish defence with a great through ball to release Sabitzer who, from just inside the area, fired into the roof of the net, his second goal for the Reds.
It got even better when United doubled their lead in the 21st minute with a break from a Sevilla corner.
Martial made the burst and released Sabitzer who beat the offside trap before firing home a low shot.
Bounou also had to be alert diving low down to keep out a close-range effort from Fernandes.
Lamela had a lucky escape to only be booked for a nasty challenge on Casemiro.
German referee Felix Zwayer produced a yellow card, but there was a VAR check to determine whether it was red.
Fernandes was booked for handball as he charged down a shot which will rule him out of next week’s second leg.
Sevilla, who hardly had a shout in then opening half, almost equalised three minutes into stoppage time when David De Gea pulled off a brilliant save to keep out a close-range header from Tanguy Nianzou.
United made a change for the restart as Varane, who looked to have picked up an earlier knock, was replaced by Maguire.
The Reds started the second half on the front foot as Antony bent an effort not far wide of the upright.
United almost added a third when Aaron Wan-Bissaka released Antony who raced away down the right before cutting in and seeing his shot crash against the bar.
Ten Hag made a triple change just after the hour as Martial, Fernandes and Sancho were replaced by Wout Weghorst, Christian Eriksen and Anthony Elanga.
United made their final change with nine minutes left, Facundo Pellistri taking over from Antony.
Disaster struck when Sevilla halved the deficit in the 84th minute when Malacia failed to clear danger.
Navas fired over a low cross which Malacia deflected past De Gea.
And the night got a whole lot worse moments later when Martinez went down with nobody around him.
The Argentine knew the damage to his ankle was serious as he was sportingly carried off by two Sevilla players and was taken to the changing rooms on a stretcher.
United were down to 10 men as they had used all five substitutes.
And Sevilla took advantage of their extra player.
First substitute Youssef En-Nesyri’s header was well kept out by De Gea before the Spanish side equalised in the 92nd minute.
Lucas Ocampos crossed from the right and En-Nesyri’s header was off target until it deflected in off the hapless Maguire.
United became only the second English side to score two own goals in a single match in a major European competition, after Chelsea against ten Hag’s Ajax in November 2019.