Manchester United had to settle for a 1-1 draw at Real Sociedad in their Europa League round of 16 first stage after Bruno Fernandes had given away a penalty for handball.
Mikel Oyarzabal, the scorer of the goal that England Hearts broke in the euro -final against Spain, converted from the place with 20 minutes left when the game turned upside down after Joshua Zirkzee United had given a deserved lead earlier in the second half.
It is Europa League of Buste for United this season and they responded well to the pressure, produced one of their better performance among Ruben Amorim, and will feel disappointed that they have not taken a lead to Manchester after missing important opportunities.
United could have led in the first half alone in the first half when Fernandes saw a shot disappear from the line and Diogo Dalot did not go the ball in the six-year box to Rasmus Hojlund Kwadraat. The striker, now without a goal in 19 games, was rightly furious on the wing behind.
Zirkzee was helped by Alex Remiro's hopeless keeper for the opener. His tame attack from the edge of the box was almost straight in the middle, but the Sociedad-shot stopper was out of position and could not come up with the lost soil.
Fernandes felt hurt to give Sociedad a route back in the game with 20 minutes to go, but his arm made contact with the ball while stroking a header in the box and the right decision was made.
Oyarzabal's penalty was the first shot of Sociedad to the goal of the game, which underlines the dominance that United had at that stage. But they could have lost it late, because Andre Onana was forced into a smart Save and Orri Oskarsson missed a big chance of the bank.
Amorim's perfect record in this competition is coming to an end, but he can take some confidence on his way to the second stage after his side had produced improved performance and caused problems for Sociedad.
More to follow …
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