MANCHESTER UNITED WERE held to a 1-1 draw by Rostov in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 clash on Thursday, leaving the tie in the balance ahead of next week’s return fixture at Old Trafford.
The fit-again Henrikh Mkhitaryan scored the opening goal with United’s first real chance 10 minutes before half-time, the Armenian finishing off a cute cutback from Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Mkhitaryan’s return was a timely boost for United, having not featured since the win over Saint-Etienne in the last round due to a hamstring problem, but his side could not hold on to their lead.
Aleksandr Bukharov equalised for Rostov eight minutes into the second half, getting between Chris Smalling and Phil Jones to take Timofei Kalachev’s lofted pass on his chest and finish well.
Rostov could even have snatched a comeback victory in their first ever meeting with English opposition, but Aleksandr Erokhin’s strike curled away from goal.
Jose Mourinho experimented with a back three ahead of Monday’s FA Cup quarter-final tie at Premier League leaders Chelsea, but United were unable to record a fifth consecutive Europa League clean sheet and will have work to do in next week’s second leg.
Christian Noboa had the first strike at goal in the second minute but Sergio Romero made a comfortable save, before Paul Pogba miscued a shot when found by Ashley Young in the Rostov box in a rapid start to the game.
Mourinho complained about the poor state of the Rostov pitch before the match and it started cutting up almost immediately, affecting the passing rhythm of both sides, while Rostov were also disrupted by having to replace the injured Vladimir Granat after 18 minutes.
United gradually took control of a poor-quality encounter and the visitors opened the scoring after 35 minutes with their first shot on target, through the returning Mkhitaryan.
Marouane Fellaini took a long ball down on his chest and slipped a pass behind the Rostov defence for Ibrahimovic, who used the outside of his right boot to neatly pick out Mkhitaryan for an easy close-range finish.
Ibrahimovic, who will miss United’s next three domestic games through suspension after elbowing Bournemouth’s Tyrone Mings, flashed a drive over the bar soon after the restart.
And Rostov then drew level after 53 minutes with a goal created out of absolutely nothing. Kalachev was given space to drive into United territory and he floated a delightful pass into the box for Bukharov to chest down and blast a fine finish past the helpless Romero.
Rostov went close to taking a shock first-leg lead when Erokhin’s shot swerved wide after he was set up by Dmitri Poloz, while Kalachev slashed an effort off target from just outside the area, as United toiled on the difficult surface.
Home captain Aleksandr Gatskan almost won the game with three minutes remaining, but Romero saved his powerful volley, leaving the tie finely poised.
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1-1 isn’t a bad result in fairness
Ye the pitch was in bits and the ref was blowing up for everything on both sides, terrible game,will take the away goal
the most expensive team in the history of football and you’re saying it’s not a bad result
They beat bayern at home so…
Give it a rest Alan, you’ve worn out that line too much. It was a dreadful game though, painful to watch. Pogba was anonymous yet again. Total muck.
Who cares if they beat Bayern that was a knockout tie today against an average Russian team. Even the top Russian teams are useless. Times are tough for United when their fans are brainwashed by BT into thinking that is a good result, yous were 1-0 up for god sake.
It’s tougher repeatedly reading your half wit comments on United treads Brian along with your buddy with 20 accounts.
Aren’t you the guy who struggled to comprehend basic English earlier? Too many emotional people here.. I talk in facts.
Facts? A knockout tie? With 2 legs? Away? Russia? Bad result? You haven’t a clue what your talking about. Your a troll. Touch on
Brian,
A sentence is ended by one full stop. Not two. Basic grammar.
Yes it is a knockout tie. A tie consisting of 2 legs.. Use your head man. And also it’s you’re*. Stop blaming it being played in Russia as an excuse for United being poor. You are in denial. Calling people trolls online for disagreeing with you is not a cool thing to have in your repertoire.
Thommo you’re replying to a comment not writing a letter. So before you try and correct people on their spellings etc you need take a look at your own.
Thommo, An ellipsis consists of multiple full stops. Not one. Advanced grammar.
Ok snoop that was a below the belt dig but it just goes to show how far United have fallen when fans are happy with that result.also this talk of them beating Bayern that’s no way to gauge a team look at what happened PSG last night after beating Barcelona 4-0
Seriously how is that not a good result? 1-1 away in Russia on a terrible pitch with the second leg in old Trafford to come? What did u expect to happen? If your honest you knew that was a tricky tie for united and it’s really not a bad result nothing amazing but a decent result which u know is true give it a rest boy will ya
Lads can yous not actually talk about football without this shite. It’s every thread. I very near deleting this app because of it.
Only speaking for myself here Alan and I’m NOT happy with that performance, never mind the result. So many United players were off the mark tonight. They will need to seriously buck up their ideas for Chelsea or it could be another embarrassment at Stamford Bridge.
Ah Lorcan, surely my roasting of Thommo with the ellipsis comment is worth keeping the app alone. I’m happy with that one I must say.
Snoop I love your honesty here.Lorco don’t go I’d miss you
Get in there Brian good man.
Bayern do Brian
Thanks Is mise, means a lot.
Lads I must just say… I was watching the match on BT myself and was nearly laughing at the BT pundits trying to insult viewers intelligence by stating that it was a good result. That was a United team with several “superstars” against a very average team of relative nobodies. Regardless of pitch or location, United should at least be outperforming that team in every area if not at least win. The fact that they were a goal up also makes it a worse result.
Brian that wasn’t United that was The Biggest Best Unstoppable Amazing Title Surging Richest Club ever.
Didn’t get to see the match Sloop but horrendous again by all accounts.
Yes Nollaig, well you didn’t miss much. I watched it being streamed on Mobdro with a lot of “buffering” so that probably added to the frustration. Have to agree with Brain regarding the BT Sports commentators and pundits being OTT in their “praise” of the result. I’m sure most genuine fans can see right through that bull $hit. Like Sky, they are selling a product so obviously they are going to over hype it.
Confident United will get it done in the return leg. Not worried about it. The FA Cup game with Chelsea is the focus right now
Dire game on the worst pitch I’ve seen since plough Lane.away goal tie over
Match was awful. Long ball all game, wasnt great to watch. But what else could you do on a surface like that
@lorcan coyle best two comments I’ve read all night fair play
Another 90 mins of horridness from that despicable little runt herrera and pogba by God is woeful. Making the Andy Carrol signing for Liverpool fade into the background thank God.
It’s a pity you wouldn’t fade away with it ..
Mr King already told you if you don’t like my opinion red thumb and move on. No need for nasties.
No need for nasties says the lad calling someone a despicable little runt?
You are a special kind of stupid aren’t you?
Eamonn:Special and stupid in the one sentence. Cruel and insensitive. Your Mother be proud.
Yes he is Eamon as his last stupid troll account Marcus was banned for his angry nasty replies.
Mr King or Tabatha you must really like my comments you constantly reply/attack me.
Stop being a douchbag and be cool and insightful
Yea you douch bag
Stop being so nasty.
Stop being so hurtful you social bully.
There are now more fake troll accounts on the 42 than genuine accounts. Every single football article is littered with childish comments and it’s about time the 42 got the troll police in action.
Casual:I agree completely. Like you an honest genuine opinion and get slated. And then you have to retort. It’s a disgrace and in fairness you do an awful lot of it yourself
An awful lot of what Leanbh? Trolling? You must be mistaken. Give me one example when I’ve ever trolled on an article?
You have attacked me numerous times if i dare to question anything United related. You and all the above. It’s not on.
Attack? No. Question your motive for trolling? Yes.
Take that thank you very mucho.
The standard of trolling on this site is pathetic. I’m all for stirring a little shite every now and again, but the key is subtlety.
Treble here we come