Manchester United’s inconsistent start to the Europa League campaign continued as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Fenerbahce in Istanbul. A lively atmosphere at the Sukru Sarakoglu Stadium threatened to swing the tie in the hosts’ favor, but an early goal from Christian Eriksen and a solid display from Manuel Ugarte gave the Red Devils a solid foundation to build on.
Eriksen’s opener came 15 minutes into the game, with the Danish midfielder finishing a swift counter-attack started by Ugarte’s tenacious tackling in his own half. The targetman smoothly cushioned a pass from Noussair Mazraoui, who had been involved in the move, before firing home from 18 yards.
However, Fenerbahce refused to let their hosts catch their breath, with Youssef En-Nesyri the one who nearly broke the deadlock three times in the first half. His low shot from a neat pass from midfielder Fred was blocked by Victor Lindelof, before Andre Onana made a spectacular save to deny him again, and then parried another attempt from the Moroccan international over the bar.
But just as it seemed as though United were set to ride the storm, En-Nesyri finally got his reward, powering a header beyond Onana from a cross by Allan Saint-Maximin four minutes into the second half. The goal, coupled with the sending off of Jose Mourinho, who was dismissed for protesting over the award of a free kick, sparked a rousing finish to the game, but United could not find the winner.
Despite their failure to win, United’s form was marked by glimpses of attacking flair, with Marcus Rashford testing the Fenerbahce defense on several occasions and lodging a shot that was just inches away from the corner of the net. Dominik Livakovic, who replaced Onana for the final stages, made a string of crucial saves to ensure that the tie remains alive.
Manager Erik ten Hag, meanwhile, will likely be frustrated by the outcome, particularly given the hosts’ lack of clear-cut chance to equalize. “I think it’s a big blow to lose this one,” he lamented. “In the second half, we had the momentum, but couldn’t convert it into the third goal. It was a tough night, but we’ll look to bounce back in the next game.”
For Fenerbahce, the point is a valuable one, given their struggles in the Turkish Super League. “We are satisfied with the point, as it’s a very important one for us,” said the home team’s manager. “We knew it would be a tough game, but our players showed great character to get back in the match.”
In the end, a hard-fought draw is a respectable one, but for Manchester United, the pressure will now be on to get it right in the return leg and secure their place in the next round.
