Man Utd-Sevilla evenly poised after two late goals

3 years ago 34

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A header from Sevilla's Youssef En-Nesyri deflects off Manchester United's Harry Maguire and pulls them level in the Europa League

Manchester United conceded two own goals and lost Lisandro Martinez to a serious-looking injury in the final six minutes against Sevilla to put their Europa League hopes in jeopardy.

United looked to be coasting to a quarter-final first-leg victory at Old Trafford thanks to Marcel Sabitzer's first-half double.

However, after Antony had hit the crossbar, Sevilla came back into the contest and profited from a terrible ending to the game for Erik ten Hag's men.

First Tyrell Malacia diverted the ball past David de Gea after former Manchester City man Jesus Navas had pulled a low cross back from the goalline.

Then, two minutes into injury time, Youssef En-Nesyri's off-target header struck Harry Maguire to leave De Gea helpless as it flew into the net.

The scoreline is bad enough as it leaves United facing a battle to secure the semi-final spot they seemed to have virtually sealed.

However, the loss of Martinez is a major concern, particularly as Raphael Varane had to be replaced at half-time.

Martinez had to be carried from the field by his Argentina team-mates Gonzalo Montiel and Marcos Acuna and then left for the dressing room on a stretcher in obvious pain after catching his foot in the turf with no opponent near him.

Martinez injury fear

Having opted against replacing Marcus Rashford when his side were two goals up against Everton at the weekend and seeing the England man get injured, it was probably not a surprise when United boss Erik ten Hag took off key man Bruno Fernandes, plus Jadon Sancho and Anthony Martial after an hour.

At that point United had a healthy advantage, with Sabitzer profiting from excellent through balls from Fernandes and Martial and Ten Hag presumably reasoned it was a wise option not to take a risk with so many big games to come.

But the decision allowed Sevilla to gain some momentum. United's goal came under threat and eventually, their lead disappeared.

Arguably though, the extent of Martinez's injury is of more concern.

The Argentine has been a rock at the heart of United's defence this season and, given the clear pain he was in as he sat sadly by the touchline waiting to be carried to the dressing rooms, there must be huge uncertainty over when he will play again, which could place his side's season under a threat that previously did not seem to exist.

More to follow.

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Manchester United

Squad number1Player namede Gea
Squad number29Player nameWan-Bissaka
Squad number19Player nameVarane
Squad number6Player nameLi Martínez
Squad number12Player nameMalacia
Squad number18Player nameCasemiro
Squad number8Player nameBruno Fernandes
Squad number21Player nameAntony
Squad number15Player nameSabitzer
Squad number25Player nameSancho
Squad number9Player nameMartial

Squad number5Player nameMaguire
Squad number14Player nameEriksen
Squad number27Player nameWeghorst
Squad number28Player namePellistri
Squad number36Player nameElanga

Sevilla

Squad number13Player nameBono
Squad number2Player nameMontiel
Squad number14Player nameNianzou
Squad number23Player nameMarcão
Squad number19Player nameAcuña
Squad number20Player nameFernando
Squad number6Player nameGudelj
Squad number55Player nameOcampos
Squad number10Player nameRakitic
Squad number21Player nameTorres
Squad number17Player nameLamela

Squad number7Player nameSuso
Squad number15Player nameEn-Nesyri
Squad number16Player nameNavas
Squad number24Player namePapu Gómez

Line-ups

Man Utd

Formation 4-2-3-1

1de Gea
29Wan-Bissaka
19VaraneSubstituted forMaguireat 45'minutes
6Li MartínezSubstituted forat 86'minutes
12Malacia
18Casemiro
8Bruno FernandesBooked at 41minsSubstituted forEriksenat 62'minutes
21AntonyBooked at 65minsSubstituted forPellistriat 81'minutesBooked at 89mins
15Sabitzer
25SanchoSubstituted forElangaat 63'minutes
9MartialSubstituted forWeghorstat 62'minutes

Substitutes

2Lindelöf
5Maguire
14Eriksen
17Fred
20Dalot
27Weghorst
28Pellistri
31Butland
36Elanga
50Vítek
55Iqbal

Sevilla

Formation 4-2-3-1

13Bono
2MontielBooked at 11minsSubstituted forGómezat 90'minutes
14NianzouSubstituted forFernández Sáenz de la Torreat 73'minutes
23do Nascimento Teixeira
19AcuñaBooked at 72mins
20Reges
6GudeljBooked at 58mins
55Ocampos
10RakiticBooked at 25mins
21TorresSubstituted forNavasat 45'minutes
17LamelaBooked at 38minsSubstituted forEn-Nesyriat 67'minutes

Substitutes

1Dmitrovic
3Alex Telles
4Rekik
7Fernández Sáenz de la Torre
12Mir
15En-Nesyri
16Navas
24Gómez
25Gil
31Flores
44Badé

Live Text

Match ends, Manchester United 2, Sevilla 2.
Second Half ends, Manchester United 2, Sevilla 2.
Attempt missed. Marcão (Sevilla) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Ivan Rakitic with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Sevilla. Conceded by Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Wout Weghorst (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Nemanja Gudelj (Sevilla).
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match (Manchester United).
Own Goal by Harry Maguire, Manchester United. Manchester United 2, Sevilla 2.
Attempt missed. Youssef En-Nesyri (Sevilla) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Lucas Ocampos with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Sevilla. Conceded by Anthony Elanga.
Corner, Sevilla. Conceded by David de Gea.
Attempt saved. Youssef En-Nesyri (Sevilla) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Marcos Acuña with a cross.
Attempt blocked. Nemanja Gudelj (Sevilla) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Substitution, Sevilla. Papu Gómez replaces Gonzalo Montiel.
Facundo Pellistri (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Facundo Pellistri (Manchester United).
Marcos Acuña (Sevilla) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt saved. Suso (Sevilla) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Gonzalo Montiel.
Lisandro Martínez went off injured after Manchester United had used all subs.