Manchester United 2-2 Sevilla: Late own goals leave Europa League tie evenly poised
Two late own goals mean Manchester United have work to do against Sevilla in the Europa League quarter-finals. …
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, knowing Fernandes is banned for the second leg anyway after he picked up another yellow card.
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.
Martial’s time to shine
If there is some comfort to be taken from a night that ended so badly, it came from the performance of Martial.
Ten Hag quoted “stats” in the build-up to the game when he said United were a better team with the Frenchman in it.
The problem is that, since he arrived from Monaco in 2015, United fans have seen the 27-year-old be maddeningly frustrating, capable of brilliance in one moment before disappearing for extended periods – either figuratively in terms of his contribution to the team or literally by being injured.
If ever there was a time for Martial to step up, this is it.
No timescale has been put on Rashford’s absence but even if it was just to the end of the month – and the belief is it will be slightly longer – that would take in the rest of this tie, the FA Cup semi-final with Brighton and a crucial league game at Tottenham in the battle to secure a Champions League spot. Martial has to stay fit and he has to perform.
His contribution to Sabitzer’s second goal emphasised why.
Collecting the ball inside the Sevilla half, Martial took his time, created some space, then delivered a perfect through ball. Immediately after he scored, Sabitzer pointed to Martial in grateful acknowledgement.
Martial’s last involvement was to superbly hold-up possession as United cleared their lines from a Sevilla attack, setting in motion a move that ended with Antony firing against the crossbar.
Ten Hag has praised Wout Weghorst for his contribution but the on-loan Burnley forward is not in the same class.
Player of the match
NavasJesús Navas
Manchester United
- Squad number15Player nameSabitzerAverage rating
6.83
- Squad number6Player nameLi MartínezAverage rating
5.91
- Squad number1Player namede GeaAverage rating
5.88
- Squad number19Player nameVaraneAverage rating
5.66
- Squad number9Player nameMartialAverage rating
5.62
- Squad number18Player nameCasemiroAverage rating
5.61
- Squad number29Player nameWan-BissakaAverage rating
5.59
- Squad number21Player nameAntonyAverage rating
5.58
- Squad number8Player nameBruno FernandesAverage rating
5.32
- Squad number25Player nameSanchoAverage rating
4.64
- Squad number14Player nameEriksenAverage rating
4.62
- Squad number28Player namePellistriAverage rating
4.15
- Squad number12Player nameMalaciaAverage rating
3.95
- Squad number27Player nameWeghorstAverage rating
3.93
- Squad number5Player nameMaguireAverage rating
3.65
- Squad number36Player nameElangaAverage rating
3.64
Sevilla
Squad number16Player nameNavas
Average rating7.52
Squad number15Player nameEn-Nesyri
Average rating7.51
Squad number24Player namePapu Gómez
Average rating7.38
Squad number7Player nameSuso
Average rating7.19
Squad number10Player nameRakitic
Average rating6.73
Squad number55Player nameOcampos
Average rating6.66
Squad number20Player nameFernando
Average rating6.61
Squad number21Player nameTorres
Average rating6.58
Squad number19Player nameAcuña
Average rating6.56
Squad number6Player nameGudelj
Average rating6.54
Squad number17Player nameLamela
Average rating6.43
Squad number23Player nameMarcão
Average rating6.41
Squad number13Player nameBono
Average rating6.40
Squad number14Player nameNianzou
Average rating6.37
Squad number2Player nameMontiel
Average rating6.17
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
- Referee:
- Felix Zwayer
Match Stats
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.