MATCH REPORT: UNITED HELD IN BRUSSELS.

James. M
Apr 14, 2017
2 min read

We still hold the advantage even after being held to a frustrating draw against Anderlecht in the Europa League first leg quarter final in Belgium.

Everyone was left disappointed as Anderlecht snatched a late equalizer to deny United a consecutive win that would have surely secured a vital away win.

Henrikh's Mkhitaryan effort was cancelled out by Leander Dendoncker’s powerful header four minutes from time to leave United with our work cut out to qualify next week in the return leg.

We only need a 0-0 draw but being United, we are always expected to win especially at home. With Mourinho having selected a strong lineup, united were expected to get this tie done and dusted at the first attempt.

That was not to be due to an all to familiar wastefulness in front of goal. With Jesse Lingard and Paul Pogba wasting one on ones, we had all to do to keep the tie safe.

We have Henrikh Mkhitaryan to thank for sparing our blushes with a well taken opening goal though it was soon to be cancelled out by a late equalizer to leave us heartbroken.

We surely have no excuse for the result with Anderlecht providing a perfect pitch and our away supporters being in full voice throughout the contest.

It was an end to end affair with both teams threatening on the counter attack, but no one was composed enough to bail their team out. For the better part of the match, Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford did their best to silence the home crowd coming close to breaking the deadlock on several occasions.

The first goal would soon arrive against the run of play and who else other than serial scorer in Europe, Henrikh Mkhitaryan to pop with a simple tap in. Mind you, that was his 4th goal in 4 consecutive Europa League away matches.

That was to be the deciding factor as United went ahead at the brea. Just as United thought the result was safe, Anderlecht struck in regrettable fashion.

A long ball looped forward on the right was whipped towards United goal with Dendoncker’s bullet header enough to give Sergio Romero no chance for a vital Anderlecht goal.

We now have our work well cut out to make it to the last four when we return to Old Trafford in the second leg this coming Thursday.

FULL-TIME STATS Possession: Anderlecht 36% United 64% Shots: Anderlecht 12 United 16 Shots on target: Anderlecht 1 United 7 Corners: Anderlecht 6 United 3

THE TEAMS:

Anderlecht: Ruben, Appiah, Mbodji, Nuytinck, Obradovic, Tielemans, Dendoncker, Stanciu (Hanni 65), Bruno (Chipciu 58), Kiese-Thelin (Teodorczyk 75), Acheampong.

Subs not used: Boeckx, Deschacht, Spajic, Capel.

Booked: Obradovic.

United: Romero, Valencia, Bailly, Rojo, Darmian, Carrick, Pogba, Mkhitaryan, (Fosu-Mensah 90), Lingard (Martial 63), Rashford (Fellaini 75), Ibrahimovic.

Subs not used: De Gea, Blind, Shaw, Herrera.

Booked: Mkhitaryan, Carrick, Fosu-Mensah.