Player ratings as own goals result in Red Devils collapse

Manchester United threw away a 2-0 lead in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final against Sevilla at Old Trafford on Thursday night, eventually drawing 2-2.

Marcel Sabitzer had given a vibrant United a dream start to the tie in the first half. But Sevilla struck back late on through two own goals from Tyrell Malacia and Harry Maguire to level things up.

United thought they had made an absolutely storming start when Jadon Sancho was put through on goal and clinically finished with just 27 seconds played, only to see an offside flag go up.

As it happened, the hosts continued that electric early tempo – the combinations between Sancho, Anthony Martial and Antony in those opening exchanges were particularly good – and it wasn’t before they actually took the lead with Sabitzer’s excellent first.

Bruno Fernandes fizzed the ball into the Austrian, whose willingness to be the furthest player forward made the 4-2-3-1 United system at times look more like 4-4-2. He took one touch to control and then lashed a left-footed shot high into the top corner from around 15 yards out.

His second only a few minutes later was the result of another run beyond, found by Martial through the middle, followed by a clinical finished past the onrushing Bono.

Erik Lamela, who once managed to goad Martial into a red card during his Tottenham days, survived a VAR red card check in the closing stages of the first half when he made contact with Casemiro’s leg with his studs. Sevilla then had their best chance of the opening 45 minutes with an Ivan Rakitic free-kick that just missed the target following a harsh Bruno Fernandes handball decision.

United’s early dominance had actually faded by the time the half-time whistle sounded and Sevilla were inches away from getting one back when Raphael Varane headed off the line after David de Gea had parried a powerful header from Tanguy Nianzou up in the air.

Antony threatened a blistering start to the second half when he stepped inside and attempted a curling left-footed shot than didn’t bend quite enough. Sevilla did improve again towards the hour mark, but Antony then went even closer with a similar effort that struck the inside of the post.

In more or less full control, Erik ten Hag was able to make changes in the second half, managing the fitness of the likes of Martial and Sancho and getting more minutes into the legs of the returning Christian Eriksen and a few fringe players. Meanwhile, the ongoing battle between…