Manchester United on Thursday settled for a 1-1 draw with Real Sociedad in the first leg of their Europa League round-of-16 tie.
United led on Joshua Zirkzee’s goal in the 58th minute, but the hosts equalized 12 minutes later after Bruno Fernandes’ hand ball and Mikel Oyarzabal sent Andre Onana the wrong way from the penalty spot.
The Europa League could be a way for United to finish the season with a trophy after crashing out of the FA Cup on Sunday.
Photo: AP
A spot in the quarter-finals is to be on the line at Old Trafford in the second leg on Thursday next week.
“Our decisionmaking in the final third was sometimes not the best, but we had good moments,” United manager Ruben Amorim said. “It’s going to be a different game at Old Trafford and the pressure is going to be on us. We have to be ready.”
Tottenham Hotspur, also struggling in the Premier League, lost 1-0 against AZ Alkmaar.
Photo: AFP
Lucas Bergvall netted an own-goal following the first corner-kick of the game after former Spurs striker Troy Parrott’s attempt across the goal.
“No fault for the goal, it happens,” Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou said. “It’s more about the collective tonight than the individuals. Collectively we were nowhere near the level we needed to be at and that’s the thing we need to address.”
Tottenham had beaten the Dutch team 1-0 in the league phase at home in October last year.
Rangers took a big step toward the quarter-finals by stunning Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce 3-1 in Istanbul.
Mourinho won the Europa League with Man United in 2017.
Vaclav Cerny scored twice, while Cyriel Dessers had a goal and an assist for Rangers.
Substitute Alexander Djiku equalized in the 30th minute off a corner-kick after half an hour.
In Bucharest, substitute Malick Fofana scored two late goals to give Olympique Lyonnais a promising advantage after a 3-1 win over FCSB.
SS Lazio topped the league phase and showed their class in a 2-1 victory against Viktoria Plzen, despite being reduced to nine men. Lazio midfielder Nicolo Rovella was sent off after his second yellow in the 77th minute when the score was 1-1 and was followed by Samuel Gigot in stoppage-time, but Gustav Isaksen still netted the late winner for the Italian favorites.
Eldor Shomurodov’s stoppage-time winner gave AS Roma a 2-1 victory over Athletic Bilbao in Rome.
Brian Brobbey’s header put Ajax 1-0 up against Eintracht Frankfurt in Amsterdam, but the forward deflected Hugo Larsson’s shot into his own net and Ellyes Skhiri completed a 2-1 comeback for the 2022 Europa League champions.
Bodo/Glimt beat Conference League defending champions Olympiacos 3-0 in Norway.
The Greek basketball league finals between Panathinaikos and Olympiakos were suspended by the government on Monday following on-court scuffles involving rival security teams. The best-of-five series is at 1-1. The third game, scheduled for today, has been postponed. The owners of both clubs were summoned to meet with the country’s sports minister. They “will be asked to provide explicit guarantees that this situation will be brought to an end. If not, this year’s championship will be definitively canceled,” government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said. “There can be no tolerance for such pathological phenomena of violence and delinquency.” In online posts, the owners of Panathinaikos and
The Crusaders yesterday produced a clinical performance in difficult conditions to beat the Queensland Reds 32-12 and claim home advantage in next week’s Super Rugby semi-finals. Lock Scott Barrett and prop Tamaiti Williams scored first-half tries to reward an outstanding performance from the Crusaders’ forwards in wet, slippery conditions and bitterly cold temperatures. Scrumhalf Noah Hotham defied the conditions in the second half to score a superb solo try and, after kicking a conversion and penalty to make the score 22-0 at the hour mark, flyhalf Rivez Reihana scored a try which took the game beyond the Reds. “Typical Christchurch weather, cold, wet
Ryan Yarbrough picked up a dazzling World Series ring from his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers last season. Then he went out and beat them. The New York Yankees starter on Sunday pitched one-run ball over six innings, struck out a season-high five and blanked the Dodgers’ top four hitters in a 7-3 win. “I feel like I’m in a really good place right now and really trying to continue that,” Yarbrough said. “I’m having a lot of fun.” The 33-year-old left-hander made 44 relief appearances between the Dodgers and Blue Jays last season. The Dodgers designated him for assignment on July
Italy crashed to a 3-0 loss away to Norway, as the four-time FIFA World Cup champions made a disastrous start to their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign on Friday, while Belgium had to settle for a draw in North Macedonia. Alexander Sorloth, Antonio Nusa and Erling Haaland all scored in the first half in pouring rain in Oslo as Norway made it a night to forget for Italy, who missed out on the past two World Cups. “I have no explanation. Our supporters don’t deserve this kind of match. We need to do some soul-searching. It’s unacceptable,” Italy captain and goalkeeper Gianluigi
RSS