Manchester United lose Europa League advantage courtesy of two shocking late own goals
Sevilla produced a dramatic late comeback against Manchester United to grab a critical 2-2 draw in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final.
Marcel Sabitzer scored twice in the first half to put United 2-0 up at Old Trafford on Thursday but own goals from Tyrell Malacia and Harry Maguire in the 84th and 92nd minutes stunned the home crowd in a thrilling end to the encounter.
Lisandro Martinez was carried off by medical staff late on with what appeared to be an Achilles injury and the Argentina international looked to be in tears as United had to play the final few minutes with 10 men – due to the fact Erik ten Hag’s side had used up all five substitutes – when United were still leading 2-1.
Bruno Fernandes, meantime, is ruled out of the second leg on April 20 after being issued a yellow card and Rapahel Varane was taken off at half-time after picking up a knock in what became a nightmare of a night for the Red Devils.
United began the game well and had the ball in the back of the net in under a minute but Jadon Sancho’s clinical finish was rightfully called out for offside.
Ten Hag’s men kept pressing, though, and Fernandes’ superb pass found Sabitzer to give them the lead after 14 minutes with his powerful strike beating Sevilla goalkeeper Bono after it took a deflection on the way in.
Just seven minutes later and Sabitzer made it 2-0 to put United in control of the tie after Anthony Martial’s silky through play, with no-one picking up the late run of the Austria international midfielder, who registered his second and third goals for the club.
Things could have got even worse for Sevilla immediately before half-time when former Tottenham winger Erik Lamela put in a vicious challenge on Casemiro – with VAR checking for a potential red card before ultimately deciding to keep it yellow.
But the Spanish side almost pulled one back with Tanguy Nianzou’s thunderous header from a corner forcing a save from David de Gea before Raphael Varane headed the looping loose ball off the line.
United might have put the game to bed on the hour mark when Antony almost produced a moment of magic – cutting inside and hitting a soaring shot which slammed off the inside of the post – inches away from extending the lead.
Malacia lost a good chance with eight minutes to play and then switched off as Sevilla scored moments later when former Manchester City star Jesus Navas fired a cross which deflected off the defender – and then De Gea – into the net.
Martinez then went out injured – with United forced to play with 10 men – and the Red Devils conceded in added time through Maguire’s own goal as Youssef En-Nesyri’s header hit him in the face and soared past De Gea to trigger frenzied celebrations in the away end.
