MANCHESTER UNITED drew 1-1 with FC Twente in the Europa League in their first group game.
The Red Devils went ahead through Christian Eriksen in the first half but Twente striker Sam Lammers equalised in the second period after some shocking United defending.
- Kick-off time: 8pm BST
- Live stream: discovery+
- TV channel: TNT Sports 1
- Man Utd XI: Onana, Mazraoui, Maguire, Martinez, Dalot, Ugarte, Eriksen, Fernandes, Amad, Rashford, Zirkzee
- FC Twente XI: Unnerstall, Van Rooij, Hilgers, Bruns, Salah-Eddine, Vlap, Regger, Van Wolfswinkel, Steijn, Van Bergen, Lammers
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Manager lays it on the line
In his post-match interview the Dutch manager gave his thoughts on the game and result:
We kept them alive. We were one-nil up, controlling the game. We dropped our levels and give a goal away. We got punished with a mistake from ourselves. We cannot give a goal away like this.
Erik ten Hag
Home form pivotal to qualify
Man Utd cannot afford to drop points at Old Trafford in the new format Europa League.
Playing four home games and four away, they need at least fifteen points to finish in the top eight places.
A tricky trip to Portugal is next up, where Erik ten Hag’s side will need a big performance to right the wrongs of this evening.
From hero to zero
It really was a game of two halves for Christian Eriksen today.
After scoring the opening goal, a fantastic strike, everything seemed to good in the world of the Danish midfielder as he walked off at half-time.
Turning into trouble in the second-half, saw him dispossessed for the FC Twente goal that cost the hosts all three points.
Credit: Getty
Tough run ahead for Red Devils
It looks to be testing period of fixtures for Erik ten Hag and his players lying ahead.
A home game against Tottenham and tricky trip to Aston Villa are sandwiched around a game against FC Porto in Portugal.
The Red Devils will need to up their game to get some positive results from these fixtures.
Apparently they’re not back
After wins against Southampton and League One Barnsley, fans and pundits alike were celebrating the rebirth of Man Utd.
Since then, they have had a goalless draw with winless Crystal Palace and a home draw with FC Twente.
There is a long season ahead and it appears comfortable wins against one of the worst teams in the top-flight and lower league opposition are not the benchmarks for success many thought.
Credit: Reuters FT: Man Utd 1-1 FC Twente
You cannot deny that the visitors deserved a point tonight.
Had they not changed to a more defensive formation, they looked the most likely to win it after their equaliser.
All you can hear at Old Trafford now are the Dutch fans in the away end as the ground empties out like there is a fire drill in the home enclosures.
FT: Man Utd 1-1 FC Twente
The referee brings the game to a close.
FC Twente have got a big point at Old Trafford.
Another frustrating evening to be a Man Utd fan.
Man Utd 1-1 FC Twente
90+2. Mazraoui looks to cross from the right but it is deflected behind for a corner.
Maguire gets his head to the cross but somehow the keeper makes a brilliant reaction save as it deflects towards goal from one of his own defenders.
The hosts look to pepper the box with crosses but eventually the Dutch are able to clear their lines.
Man Utd 1-1 FC Twente
90. The visitors are happy to run the clock down now.
It would be a good point for them away from home,
Garnacho tries to get away down the left but van Rooij times his tackle to perfection.
We are going to have four added minutes.
Credit: Reuters
Man Utd 1-1 FC Twente
88. Martinez tries to play the ball into Garnacho but Hilgers is there first as he boots it into the stands.
FC Twente are coming under some significant pressure now.
Fortunately the Red Devils always seem capable of misplacing a pass at a critical moment.
Man Utd 1-1 FC Twente
86. The Dutch side are finding it difficult to get out when they turn the ball over with this new formation.
Man Utd come forward again and Mainoo goes to ground looking for a penalty.
The referee waves away protests quite rightly, the young midfielder went down far too easily there.
Man Utd 1-1 FC Twente
84. FC Twente seem to have switched to a 5-4-1 now.
The visitors would be more than happy with a point here.
You wonder why they changed, they looked the most likely to get a winner in the last fifteen minutes.
Man Utd 1-1 FC Twente
82. Ugarte squares the ball back to Fernandes.
He hits a shot towards the far corner but it is curling away from the goal.
Big chance there for Man Utd to get that elusive winner.
Man Utd 1-1 FC Twente
80. Mainoo, Hojlund and Mount join the action.
Rashford, Eriksen and Zirkzee are the players to make way.
Lammers runs through on goal, with options to his left and right, but plays a dreadful pass to gift it to Mazraoui.
Credit: Getty Man Utd 1-1 FC Twente
78. This game is still finely poised with just over ten minutes remaining.
Fernandes goes down and Lammers is shown a yellow card.
Terrible decision by the referee as the FC Twente player won the ball.
He was conned by the reaction from Fernandes like his career had been ended by the challenge.
Man Utd 1-1 FC Twente
76. Ten Hag is preparing some more changes.
Zirkzee receives the ball in the box and his shot is palmed over the bar by Unnerstall for a corner.
As the cross comes in, Maguire heads it wide of the goal.
Man Utd 1-1 FC Twente
74. Dalot keeps dropping into midfield and it is leaving the hosts with no left-back whatsoever.
Ten Hag needs to be doing something about this or they at risk of losing this game.
Considering how long the manager has been at the club, you really to question why his teams to do not seem to know where they should be playing.
Man Utd 1-1 FC Twente
72. This is the Christian Eriksen game so far tonight.
He scored the goal to give Man Utd the lead and then gifted the ball to FC Twente for them to score.
Sharing is caring in Denmark it seems.
Man Utd 1-1 FC Twente
70. FC Twente are sensing they get some joy here when they high press Man Utd.
All too often the hosts are making mistakes at the back.
This could be an entertaining finish to this game.
Regeer almost turns towards goal but Mazraoui manages to win the ball.
Credit: Getty Man Utd 1-1 FC Twente
68. Van Rooij makes a lung-bursting run, waltzing past the Man Utd players.
It seems he has lost the ball but Eriksen turns into trouble and is dispossessed by Lammers.
He opens up his body, making it look like he is going for the far corner, but drills it past Onana at his near post.
Goal – Sam Lammers (FC Twente)
Man Utd 1-0 FC Twente
66. Garnacho is getting ready to come on.
You kind of feel Man Utd need a second goal here.
It would be a nervy end to the game if they still hold this slender lead.
Alejandro Garnacho comes on for Amad Diallo.
Man Utd 1-0 FC Twente
64. Fernandes is having a good old whinge as he is not happy with a late challenge on him.
He would be a nightmare to live next door to.
Knocking on your door two/three times a day to moan about your bins or your cat being on his lawn.
Man Utd 1-0 FC Twente
62. FC Twente make a couple of changes with Kjolo and Rots joining the action.
Vlap and Steijn are the players to make way.
Man Utd come forward, as the ball is played to Rashford at the back post, he looks to shoot but it is easily blocked.
Often the Red Devils’ forward really telegraphs his intentions to shoot and this was another one of those occasions.
Man Utd 1-0 FC Twente
60. Steijn strikes the free kick into the bottom corner of the goal.
Onana gets down well to push it around the post for a corner.
Man Utd continue to look unsure of themselves in defence.
Credit: PA
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
