Manchester United’s first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie against Real Sociedad was a hard-fought 1-1 draw, courtesy in large part to Joshua Zirkzee. Had it not been for two critical moments, one involving Bruno Fernandes and the other André Onana, the evening could have been a different story.
United were in command when Zirkzee placed a side-footed shot past Alex Remiro, leaving them well-placed to claim a crucial away win. But a timely intervention by VAR restored Real Sociedad to the game, and Mikel Oyarzabal equalized from the spot with 20 minutes left. In the final minutes, the Spanish side came close to pulling off a win, only for it to be thwarted by an amazing Onana save to leave United traveling back to Old Trafford level.
A draw on the road is not always a bad result, but there was an underlying feeling of frustration. Onana’s heroics in blocking Orri Óskarsson’s late effort saved a defeat, but there were evident indications that United still lack finishing. “It could be better, it could be worse,” said Ruben Amorim, whose team gave glimpses of quality but also their well-known issues in front of goal.
The largest problem still is United’s failure to be clinical when it counts most. “It is obvious we need to be more clinical,” Amorim conceded. “We’re creating opportunities. Occasionally you don’t see that in the xG because we find a way not to shoot.”. Occasionally, we miss out on something.” He stressed an air of urgency that seemed to weigh the players down, telling of a psychological block which would not let them take advantage of crucial instances. Fatigue contributed as well, with Amorim mentioning how his men increasingly looked lifeless as the game progressed.
Since the start, United’s tactic was reserved, frequently adopting long balls upfront. There were early warnings of frustration when Fernandes, with nothing in front of him, attempted a diagonal pass that went out of play. Real Sociedad had possession but not a cutting edge, and when Beñat Turrientes shot weakly wide, it encapsulated the opening minutes. Even the referee, Ivan Kruzliak, appeared to notice the sense of urgency, waving over Onana to get the game moving 18 minutes into the game.
Sociedad’s control of possession notwithstanding, United did get chances to play in behind. One of them arrived when Noussair Mazraoui sent Diogo Dalot down the right side. Rasmus Højlund’s clever run into the box called for the ball first-time, but Dalot hesitated, opting to pass to Alejandro Garnacho. That gave Sociedad’s defense time to reorganize, and Patrick Dorgu ultimately drilled high over the bar. Højlund’s frustration was clear. “The choice wasn’t the best,” Amorim said. “The crucial thing is to move on [and] not still be struggling.
As the match went on, United’s attacks became more organized. A good ball from Dalot picked out Fernandes, whose shot was blocked. Zirkzee responded quickly but had his first attempt saved by Remiro, and his second one trickle wide. It was a moment of mayhem that encapsulated United’s night—close, but not quite clinical. Amorim’s words earlier proved true: “There are things that are hard to explain. Sometimes it’s luck.”
A threatening spell ensued as United started to make more defined openings. Dalot played a perilous cross that Garnacho was able to only find the side netting with. Shortly afterwards, Fernandes teed up Garnacho once more, but the winger failed to hit the target. Then, however, in a good piece of work, Dalot beat his marker and played Garnacho through, who brought several defenders with him before playing in Zirkzee. The Dutch frontman clinically finished the ball past Turrientes’s legs and into Remiro’s hands to put United in front.
They should have extended their lead almost immediately, as Garnacho again had his strike repelled by the side netting. “We dominated the game. We were so close to taking the second one, you felt like the stadium was tense,” Amorim explained. But the penalty altered it.” The turning point arrived in the 70th minute when Fernandes, in a challenge with Nayef Aguerd in the air, inadvertently stretched out his arm. The incident went unnoticed at first, but VAR picked it up, and Oyarzabal stepped up to calmly slot home from the spot. It was Sociedad’s first shot on goal, but it immediately changed the balance of the game.
With fresh vigour, Sociedad continued, driven on by substitutes Becker and Óskarsson. Onana was denied from having to make a great save to deny Brais Méndez from range. Becker then played in a beautiful cross for Óskarsson, who from six yards was able to send his shot wide. The pressure came on as Sociedad again went charging forward, with Matthijs de Ligt just able to clear a menacing attack.
The 93rd minute was the final and perhaps most dramatic. Oyarzabal once more picked out Óskarsson, this time with a well-weighted pass that should have sealed the victory for Sociedad. Onana, though, produced a brilliant reflex save by stretching out his left hand to block the shot and keep United in the game.
Though a 1-1 result presents United with an acceptable platform from which to face the second leg, there remains skepticism over the display. On the evening that they play Sociedad at Old Trafford, they must right their finishing malaises, lack of decisiveness, and protracted defensive vulnerability. Still, for the moment, the heroics of Onana ensure United’s European venture remains most emphatically their own to throw away.
