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.
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