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Adam Davy

As it happened: Fenerbahce v Man United, Europa League

Man United played Fenerbahce, as the Red Devils sought to put their disappointing weekend Premier League result behind them.

Hello, and welcome to tonight’s liveblog.

As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts on the game. E-mail paul@the42.ie, tweet @the42_ie, post a message to our Facebook wall, or leave a comment below.

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You can also follow our liveblog of tonight’s other big game in the Europa League — Zenit St Petersburg v Dundalk — here.

We’re underway…

FENERBAHCE 1-0 MAN UNITED (SOW 2)

It’s unbelievable goal that’s given Fenerbahce the lead.

A cross is floated into the box and Moussa Sow‘s incredible bicycle kick from the edge of the box finds the back of the net.

Premier League fans will be familiar with 69-year-old Fenerbahce coach Dick Advocaat, who guided Sunderland to safety the season beore last.

Fenerbahce SK v Manchester United - UEFA Europa League - Group A - Sukru Saracoglu Stadium Adam Davy Adam Davy

There’s a nervy moment in the Fenerbahce penalty area, as a ball from a corner in goes loose, but Martin Skrtel is ultimately on hand to clear.

The hosts look well organised and United are finding it difficult to break them down at the moment.

Pogba has gone down in agony following a late challenge on him.

He’s currently limping off for treatment, but it looks like he’ll be okay to continue.

Martial plays an excellent ball through to Rooney.

The England striker is just onside, but his heavy touch allows Skrtel to intercept.

Pogba is still moving quite awkwardly.

As I type, Lens escapes the attentions of Luke Shaw and heads a well-executed cross just wide.

Mata and Mkhitaryan are both warming up.

It looks like Pogba is trying to run off whatever injury he picked up.

With the pacy Sow breathing down his neck, Blind does really well to control the bouncing ball and clear.

Meanwhile, as I type, Pogba starts walking off the pitch. Ibrahimovic will replace the injured Frenchman.

Fenerbahce are looking menacing on the counter-attack — they have plenty of pace in their attack.

United have had 67% possession so far, but have little to show for it.

Meanwhile, Rooney is now playing as a number 10 in Pogba’s absence, while Ibrahimovic is the main striker.

Half chance for United. Rashford’s crosses and Demirel parries the ball away with Ibrahmovic lurking.

United are looking better and more threatening with the Swede up front.

United are playing at a much higher tempo now, with Fenerbahce looking a little tired and vulnerable all of a sudden.

As I type, however, Kaldirim gets in behind the United defence, but he can’t find anyone with his cross.

Meanwhile, Rooney is limping after a late challenge by Alper.

Rooney shows his frustration as he is penalised for a late challenge on Souza.

There is some heated arguing between both sets of players thereafter, and goalkeeper Demirel gets booked as a result.

Moussa Sow heads just over following an excellent ball into the box.

Fenerbahce have looked threatening on the counter-attack, despite their relative lack of possession in the first half.

HALF-TIME: FENERBAHCE 1-0 MAN UNITED

So half-time and Man United’s struggles in front of goal have continued.

The Red Devils dominated possession, but got off to the worst possible start with Sow’s spectacular goal.

Since then, the hosts have been compact at the back, while sporadically threatening on the counter-attack.

Man United have been better since the introduction of Ibrahimovic, but too often, their attacking build-up play has been laboured and they have struggled to break their opponents down.

The second half is underway…

Fenerbahce SK v Manchester United - UEFA Europa League - Group A - Sukru Saracoglu Stadium Phil Jones is back on the bench for United tonight. Adam Davy Adam Davy

The second half has followed a similar pattern to the first so far.

United are patiently probing, with Fenerbahce sitting back and looking relatively comfortable.

Decent ball in from Martial, but Rooney’s glancing header goes well wide.

It continues to be a frustrating evening for Jose Mourinho and his side.

There’s a bit of pinball in the United box, before Mata ultimately fires it wide from the edge of the area.

United have created some half chances, but still lack conviction going forward.

FENERBAHCE 2-0 MAN UNITED (LENS 59)

Fenerbahce double their advantage and it’s another superb strike.

Jeremain Lens, the ex-Sunderland player, curls an unstoppable free-kick past David De Gea.

Mourinho’s response is to bring on Mkhitaryan for Rashford.

Turkey Soccer Europa League Manchester United's Zlatan Ibrahimovic, left, listens to his captain Wayne Rooney, right. STR STR

So close! Fenerbahce break superbly and open up United with three passes.

The substitute Emenike goes through on goal, but a combination of Blind and De Gea cause him to squander the chance and hit it straight at the goalkeeper.

Man United continue to dominate possession but just can’t create clear-cut chances.

This feels no different to the Louis van Gaal era tonight.

Emenike beats the defender Blind and forces a save from De Gea.

The substitute has looked lively since coming on.

Lens breaks down the right and his cross narrowly eludes the sliding boot of Emenike.

Fenerbahce are cutting United open at will now.

Rooney makes the challenge of a frustrated man and fouls Kaldirim.

The crowd are olé-ing passes now, it’s turned into a comfortable win for the hosts.

Fenerbahce SK v Manchester United - UEFA Europa League - Group A - Sukru Saracoglu Stadium Manchester United's Zlatan Ibrahimovic exhanges words with SK Fenerbahce's Simon Kjaer. Adam Davy Adam Davy

Martial flashes a shot well wide.

United haven’t used wingers like him or Rashford anywhere near enough tonight — there’s been far too much overly intricate eye-of-a-needle passing.

FENERBAHCE 2-1 MAN UNIYED (ROONEY 89)

Rooney’s been quiet tonight, but he’s just scored a stunning goal.

Out of nothing, he scores his 247th goal in a United shirt, blasting the ball into the top corner from distance under little pressure from the defenders.

There will be four minutes of stoppage time.

Fenerbahce suddenly look very nervy.

As I type, a shot from Herrera is deflected wide, with United players claiming the defender used his hand to block the Spaniard’s shot.

FULL-TIME: FENERBAHCE 2-1 MAN UNITED

Well that’s that. United rallied late on and Rooney showed a glimpse of his old self with that stunning goal, but otherwise there were few positives for United to take from that game.

Fenerbahce were deserving winners — they defended superbly and were clinical in attack when they needed to be.

United, having fielded a relatively strong, were very disappointing ultimately.

Ibrahimovic, Rashford, Martial and — his goal aside — Rooney all underperformed.

The Red Devils look conspicuously short of ideas in attack, and rarely were able to turn their dominance in possession into clear-cut chances.

It’s been a difficult start to the season for Mourinho and to make matters worse, an early Europa League exit now seems like a distinct possibility.

Right, that’s all from me.

Thanks for reading and commenting, and we’ll have more reaction to follow.

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LIVE: Zenit St Petersburg v Dundalk, Europa League

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20 Comments
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    Mute Murph
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    Apr 21st 2018, 7:05 AM

    An all Ireland final would be amazing, here’s hoping! I wonder what ‘tweaks’ the English and French federations will make this time….Pro 14 teams only allowed play 7 players with conversions taken by loose head props! Best of luck to both teams this weekend.

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    Mute Tomás O'Loughlin
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    Apr 21st 2018, 8:48 AM

    As a fan of Irish rugby, of course I want Munster and Leinster in the final…although as a selfish Munster fan, I’ll admit I’d rather face Scarlets if we are to go to Bilbao. Can’t see Scarlets beating Leinster though.
    Leinster by 5 to 7 points; Munster by 3 to 5 points…best o’luck to the boys in blue today!

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    Mute Tony Stack
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    Apr 21st 2018, 8:00 AM

    Scarlets to pull off a shock today

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    Mute Julian
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    Apr 21st 2018, 8:33 AM

    @Tony Stack: sneaky feeling you might be right!!

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    Mute Conor Greham
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    Apr 21st 2018, 8:50 AM

    @Julian: I’m going scarlets v munster

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    Mute William Finnegan
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    Apr 21st 2018, 10:49 AM

    Hopefully Leinster and Munster. With both playing fine rugby to get through

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    Mute Coco86
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    Apr 21st 2018, 12:39 PM

    @William Finnegan: It would be an epic season for Irish rugby if it were to happen!

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    Mute Fred McHugh
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    Apr 21st 2018, 8:40 AM

    Leinster will win

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    Mute borgig
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    Apr 21st 2018, 8:17 AM

    I sh*t you not……I had a dream last night Leinster racked up 94 points on Scarlets. And I’m a Munster supporter.

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    Mute Tomás O'Loughlin
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    Apr 21st 2018, 8:43 AM

    @borgig: Defuq were ya drinking last night?

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    Mute Thomas McGilly
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    Apr 21st 2018, 2:04 PM

    @borgig: Acid is bad for your brain.

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    Mute Tom Murphy
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    Apr 21st 2018, 8:18 PM

    @borgig: that was not a dream
    It was a nightmare

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    Mute Alan Madden
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    Apr 21st 2018, 9:55 PM

    @borgig: not a Millom miles off after all :) (from another munster supporter)

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    Mute Batster
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    Apr 22nd 2018, 8:39 AM

    As much as another all Irish final sounds great social media would be full of lunatics for at least a week in the run up to the game

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