No English football fan will soon forget the name Mikel Oyarzabal.
He was the Spain striker that appeared with the late winner that broke three lion hearts in the Euro 2024 final.
Eight months later he was working on it again – the calmest man in the park while stroking the penalty home that keeps this Europa League – equal game very much in balance.
It meant more penalty for the men of Ruben Amorim four days after they had been dumped in a shoot-out by Fulham from the FA Cup.
At least a few second half minutes – it seemed that Manchester United would put that disappointment firmly behind him.
And there was redemption for Joshua Zirkzee, who had seen the last Spot-Kick that was saved by Bernd Leno, he was in tears to the grass Valde.
This time he laughed completely when he wiped a cross from Alejandro Garnaacho home to give the visitors a crucial lead over 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 the season of United is.
Ruben Amorim has tried to play the importance of winning this competition – but he certainly doesn't joke.
Winning a trophy would be lifted the gloom above Old Trafford, not to mention following a passport on the Champions League next season.
It would also give a very different impact on a season that threatens to be the worst, because the club was banned more than 50 years ago.
But for all problems in the current campaign, United has not lost any game in Europe – that's why they are one of the favorites to go all the way to Bilbao on May 21.
So there was so much at stake in San Sebastian – especially after their FA Cup output.
And Amorim had to go into the game with a team of only 18 – and only five outfield players on the couch – because the injury problems got worse.
The form of United in Old Trafford has been so gloomy this season that it was difficult to find out what would be classified here as a good result.
Nevertheless, they had the best chances for a largely forgottenable first half, with the first to fall to Garnacho who Intenne but his shot kept home keeper Alex Remiro.
Rasmus Hojlund was then furious at Diogo Dalot to pass on the opportunity to put him on goal – instead choose to go back to Garnacho.
The Danish attacker has not scored since mid -December – and no wonder with that kind of service of the wings.
Just like United, Sociedad did not seem to have much confidence or energy early.
This season they have saved their best shape for the cup matches and were currently in the mid-table in their domestic competition.
But Sterman Martin Zubimendi – who has been a target for Arsenal and Liverpool for the past 12 months – was pulled out due to illness.
He will probably come back next week for the return, so that was only added to the feeling that this was United's chance to take the draw through the neck villain.
They also had opportunities to do this – especially when Dalot chose the right option – cut back for skipper Bruno Fernandes.
His effort was blocked by Aritz Elustondo and the rebound fell for Joshua Zirkzee, which was refused by Remiro before he poked the loose ball wide.
Fernandes returned the compliment to his colleague Portuguese when his search was met by the head of Dalot, but his effort was missing power
The big plus was that Sociedad was almost no threat to United in the first half – although they had a chance shortly after the break.
The cross of Takefusa Kubo was implemented by Oyarzabal, but Leny Yoro came over to make the block.
However, the best openings were still on the other side, because Fernandes curled a free kick of 20 meters and closely wide.
Then Patrick Dorgu's Kruis found Garnacho on the rear pole, but he directed his shot in the side.
It felt like things started to happen for United and just before the hour marked the breakthrough.
Garnacho rolled a pass to Zirkzee on the edge of the box and his low exertion went through the legs of a defender who can have an unpaved Remiro while it stood past him.
Nobody could deny the Dutch, earned his moment after what he went through on Sunday.
It was what United deserved, but as we know – there is nowadays nothing easy for the Red Devils.
The VAR saw a handball through Fernandes when a corner went down and when the Slovak referee started checking the monitor, he agreed.
Oyarzabal never looked missing and the draw was in the balance again.
Sociedad could even have made it late, because the cross of Sheraldo Becker was straight in the path of Orri Oskarsson, but he somehow planted it the wrong side of the post.
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