It looked Manchester United were on their way to a first ever win over Sevilla after three previous failed attempts following a two goal cushion established earlier on at Old Trafford.
Marcel Sabitzer scored two goals inside the opening 21 minutes to give Erik Ten Hag’s side the sense of victory, which was to be a platform on adding another Spanish team to the list of their conquest in Europa League this season.
Bruno Fernandes and Anthony Martial were creator of the goals, and the Austrian midfielder, currently on loan from Bayern Munich made no mistake beating the Goalkeeper, each time with his weaker foot.
Aside from being drawn with Real Sociedad in the same group, Manchester United have faced a Spanish opposition in each stage of the elimination round in the competition this season.
They’ve beaten Barcelona in the playoff round before battering Sevilla’s city rivals, Real Betis to earn a place in the last eight, where they have been drawn with another one of them but this time, a Sevilla side whom they’ve never beaten.
However, for more than 80 minutes inside a more that 70 thousand capacity Old Trafford, it was as though nothing could stop United from getting their first win over the visitors from Seville.
But as fate would have it, Erik Ten Hag masterminded his own team’s downfall – apparently that was how it turned out to be after he took off a number of vital players way too early, including Bruno Fernandes who had already picked up a booking, which will see him miss the return leg in Spain.
United used up all allowed substitutions and then the capitulation started with Tyrell Malacia diverting a Jesus Navas’s cross past David de Gea in the near post as Sevilla pulled one back and started to dream of a comeback with six minutes of normal time to play.
It went from bad to worse for the host as just two minutes after conceding, Lisandro Martinez went down holding his ankle and his night ended when he had to be taken off the pitch.
With all five substitutes already utilized, United were set for a long finale with ten men, and two minutes into injury time, Ocampus’ cross finds the header of Youssef En-Nesyri, whose effort came off Harry Maguire, leaving de Gea with no chance of keeping it out.
In fairness to the captain, there’s nothing much he could have done to prevent the goal but for a player who is not very loved, this will be highlighted as one of those long list of reasons.
In the end, United were denied a win yet, the second leg still presents an opportunity to try again but that will surely be without their suspended maestro, Bruno Fernandes, most likely Lisandro Martinez and maybe a few others too.
Marcus Rashford will return for the match as he is expected to also play this weekend when United travel to the City ground to face Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.
For Sevilla, they’ll feel maybe the heavens is smiling on them again and their reputation in the Europa League could be about to project them to what will be another memorable run, all despite their struggles domestically.
An interesting return leg awaits in Seville next week where it will be learnt if it is only a delay for Manchester United, or a denial that finally brings their journey in Europe to a halt.
Author : Kehinde Hassan Afolabi
