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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 Sèan
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    Sep 24th 2023, 4:44 PM

    Might meet again in the final dont think we all can go through that again beat scotland first then new zealand who still scare me

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    Mute Gearoid MacEachaidh
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    Sep 24th 2023, 6:30 PM

    @Sèan: NZ are always capable of bearing anyone. I agree, I don’t want to play SA again but I think they might struggle against France. France are more than a match for them up front and better behind the scrum. I fancy France to win that one, even without Dupont.

    25
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    Mute Jb Walshe
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    Sep 24th 2023, 6:46 PM

    @rayridge….if there was an award for bellend of the weekend you would undoubtedly have it on your mantlepiece

    25
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    Mute Ray Ridge
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    Sep 24th 2023, 6:02 PM

    The IRFU are writing a letter asking can’t we be the 33rd team, oh sorry that was the FAI. The IRFU are writing a letter can’t New Zealander Ben O’ Keefe be the referee if we get to play New Zealand in the quarter finals. #benyoubeauty

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    Mute Dave Moran
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    Sep 24th 2023, 6:47 PM

    @Ray Ridge: Good man Ray

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    Mute Owen ODonoghue
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    Sep 24th 2023, 6:59 PM

    @Ray Ridge: he was a great ref for SA , gave them a lot of soft penalties in that second half

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    Mute chris mcdonnell
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    Sep 24th 2023, 7:03 PM

    @Ray Ridge: what do you get from this BS.

    12
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    Mute brian o'leary
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    Sep 24th 2023, 7:13 PM

    @chris mcdonnell: if he called if for SA he gets an excuse?

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    Mute Asid Howz
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    Sep 24th 2023, 7:27 PM

    @Owen ODonoghue: and as the over head camera showed a few times, they were the first to engage..

    3
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    Mute Jb Walshe
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    Sep 24th 2023, 7:39 PM

    Delighted rassie was on the losing side,with his ridiculous shining lights at his team.he almost ruined a good Munster team when he was in charge of them…s.a rugby is terrible to watch with bash bosh up the middle ,dreadful stuff altogether. I hope France wind up meeting them and send them home ! And I hope the stamp on jvdf’s hand is being looked at and consequences dished out.nasty stuff

    10
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    Mute tom o neill
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    Sep 24th 2023, 5:16 PM

    Can see us getting close to a final with that lineout.

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    Mute Neil “Montyman65” Montgomery
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    Sep 24th 2023, 5:38 PM

    @tom o neill: The lineout will be fixed. Remember Kelleher has only a small amount of game time this season and Sheenan looked good when he came on.

    20
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    Mute chris mcdonnell
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    Sep 24th 2023, 7:06 PM

    @tom o neill: we just beat the world champions with that lineout, we won a grand slam with the same lineout. We have some of the URC champions and the champions cup finalist in that lineout. We don’t seem to have lost too many games so far with that lineout.

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    Mute brian o'leary
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    Sep 24th 2023, 7:25 PM

    @chris mcdonnell: I’d say we beat them in spite of that lineout might be more constructive?

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    Mute Simon Morris
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    Sep 26th 2023, 6:29 PM

    Whatever happened to jamrag?

    1
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