NO English football fan will forget the name Mikel Oyarzabal any time soon.
He was the Spain striker who popped up with the late winner which broke Three Lions hearts in the Euro 2024 final.
Eight months later he was at it again – the calmest man on the park as he stroked home the penalty that keeps this Europa League tie very much in the balance.
It meant more penalty woe for Ruben Amorim’s men four days after they were dumped out of the FA Cup by Fulham in a shoot-out.
For a few second half minutes at least – it looked as though Manchester United were going to put that disappointment firmly behind them.
And there was redemption for Joshua Zirkzee, who had seen the final spot-kick saved by Bernd Leno before slumping to the turf in tears.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
This time he was all smiles as he swept home a cross from Alejandro Garnacho to give the visitors a crucial lead on the hour.
But Oyarzabal – just as he did in Berlin last summer – had the last word and the tie is still on a knife edge.
As is United’s season.
Ruben Amorim has tried to play down the importance of winning this competition – but surely he isn’t kidding anybody.
Most read in Football
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS
Winning a trophy would lift the gloom which is hanging over Old Trafford, not to mention give them a passport to the Champions League next season.
It would also put a very different slant on a season which is in danger of becoming the worst since the club was relegated more than 50 years ago.
Yet for all the problems in the current campaign, United have not lost a game in Europe – which is why they are among the favourites to go all the way to Bilbao on May 21.
So there was so much at stake in San Sebastian – particularly after their FA Cup exit.
And Amorim had to go into the game with a squad of just 18 – and only five outfield players on the bench – as the injury problems got worse still.
United’s form at Old Trafford has been so dismal this season that it was hard to work out what would be classed as a good result here.
Man Utd ratings vs Real Sociedad
MANCHESTER UNITED were left to rue missed chances as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Real Sociedad in the first leg of their last-16 Europa League tie.
Joshua Zirkzee scored his first European goal for the Red Devils, before a tame Sociedad outfit levelled through Mikel Oyarzabal’s penalty.
United, perhaps, deserved more. And should’ve come away with a lead going into the second leg at Old Trafford next week.
Ruben Amorim’s side started on the front foot and found space on the counterattack, which has been a rarity this season.
They even prevented the hosts threatening Andre Onana’s goal in the first half.
Sociedad, in truth, offered very little, perhaps still shellshocked from their 4-0 demolition away at Barcelona this past weekend.
The gameplan should’ve been simple at half-time: simply pass the ball in behind to Rasmus Hojlund, with the Basques slow at back.
United’s dominance of the match was rewarded when Zirkzee’s shot crept past Alex Remiro in the 57th minute.
But the noise – and the Poznan – came back into the Reale Arena after Bruno Fernandes’ handball was spotted by VAR and allowed Mikel Oyarzabal to level from the spot.
From that point on, the home side, who had offered nothing, were the better team.
But it is Man Utd who have more right to feel aggrieved about taking just a share of the spoils back to Old Trafford.
SunSport’s Katherine Walsh runs the rule over how each Manchester United star performed in the Basque Country.
Yet they had the best chances of a largely forgettable first half with the first one falling to Garnacho who cut in but thumped his shot straight at home keeper Alex Remiro.
Rasmus Hojlund was then furious with Diogo Dalot for passing up the chance to put him in on goal – choosing instead to go back to Garnacho.
The Danish forward has not scored since mid December – and no wonder with that kind of service from the wings.
Like United, Sociedad did not look to have much confidence or energy early on.
They have saved their best form for the cup competitions this season and currently languish in mid-table in their domestic league.
But star man Martin Zubimendi – who has been a target for Arsenal and Liverpool in the last 12 months – was pulled out due to illness.
He is likely to be back for the return next week so that only added to the feeling this was United’s chance to take the tie by the scruff of the neck.
They had opportunities to do so as well – most notably when Dalot chose the right option – cutting it back for skipper Bruno Fernandes.
His effort was blocked by Aritz Elustondo and the rebound fell for Joshua Zirkzee who was denied by Remiro before poking the loose ball wide.
Fernandes returned the compliment to his fellow Portuguese as his searching chip forward was met by the head of Dalot but his effort lacked the power
‘They’re anxious to score and win games’ – Amorim rues missed chances
By Martin Blackburn
RUBEN AMORIM admits the pressure is on next Thursday after Manchester United suffered more penalty woe.
The Portuguese refused to comment on the controversial spot-kick which gifted Real Sociedad a draw in this Europa League last-16 first-leg clash.
VAR Pol van Boekel spotted a handball by skipper Bruno Fernandes — despite nobody appealing.
And after going over to his monitor, Slovakian referee Ivan Kruzliak agreed.
The decision came just four days after the Red Devils were dumped out of the FA Cup following a 4-3 shootout defeat to Fulham.
Asked about the penalty, boss Amorim said: “I don’t want to talk about that — let’s just try to win the second game.”
But he did acknowledge the heat will be on at Old Trafford after his ‘tired’ stars failed to build on the lead given to them by Joshua Zirkzee.
Amorim said: “The pressure is going to be on us in that stadium. We have to be ready and fresh. It was clearly fatigue in that last half hour.”
Alejandro Garnacho, Fernandes and Zirkzee were all guilty of missing good opportunities.
Asked if United need to be more clinical, Amorim added: “That is clear, we are creating chances but sometimes you don’t see it because we manage not to shoot.
“One thing I am sure of — they’re anxious to score and win games.”
Amorim played down a row between Diogo Dalot and goal-shy forward Rasmus Hojlund.
The Dane — who has not scored since December — was furious when Dalot failed to play him in.
And Amorim said: “The decision from Diogo was not the best but the important thing is to move on and not be fighting.”
Winning the Europa League is United’s last chance for silverware this season — and to clinch a Champions League spot.
Rene Meulensteen — Sir Alex Ferguson’s former No 2 — feels they need Europa glory to lift some of the gloom over the club.
He said: “It is so important as that’s the way back into the Champions League. If that happens you win a trophy.
“Does it paint over cracks? Yes. I that falls away it is a totally disastrous season.
“Manchester United has not been Manchester United since Sir Alex Ferguson left.
“It has been a constant decline. It is a club in unrest — on and off the pitch.”
The big plus was that Sociedad had posed almost no threat to United at all in the first half – although they did have a chance soon after the break.
Takefusa Kubo’s cross was flicked on by Oyarzabal but Leny Yoro got across to make the block.
However the best openings were still coming at the other end as Fernandes curled a free-kick from 20 yards narrowly wide.
Then Patrick Dorgu’s cross found Garnacho at the back post but he directed his shot into the side-netting.
It felt like things were starting to happen for United and just before the hour mark the breakthrough came.
Garnacho rolled a pass to Zirkzee on the edge of the box and his low effort went through the legs of a defender which may have unsighted Remiro as it zipped past him.
Nobody could deny the Dutch forward deserved his moment after what he went through on Sunday.
It was what United deserved but as we know – nothing is ever straightforward for the Red Devils these days.
The VAR spotted a handball by Fernandes as a corner was headed down and when the Slovakian ref went to check the monitor he agreed.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Oyarzabal never looked like missing and the tie was back in the balance.
Sociedad could even have nicked it late on as Sheraldo Becker’s cross was right into the path of Orri Oskarsson but he somehow planted it the wrong side of the post.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
