Manchester United 1, AC Milan 1 (UEFA Europa League)
Amad Diallo scored his first goal for Manchester United but the Reds had to settle for a draw after an injury time AC Milan equaliser.
Embed from Getty ImagesDiallo’s 50th minute goal was the difference between the sides before Milan grabbed a deserved equaliser in the 92nd minute when Dean Henderson’s error allowed veteran defender Simon Kjaer to head home from a last gasp corner.
It was the least that the injury-hit Italians deserved after they had two first half goals ruled out by VAR although Harry Maguire also contrived to hit the woodwork from a yard out.
United may also miss the injured Anthony Martial for the games to come as the striker hobbled off at half time.
Dean Henderson continued in goal with David De Gea away on paternity leave but United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made four changes to the side that won 2-0 at Manchester City on Sunday.
Marcus Rashford and Edison Cavani were omitted from the match day squad to face AC Milan. Cavani was only just returning from a recent injury while Rashford injured his ankle during the win over City.
Victor Lindelof, Luke Shaw, Fred, were also left out as United made four changes from Sunday while Eric Bailly, Alex Telles, Nemanja Matic, and Mason Greenwood came into the side.
Diogo Dalot, on loan at the San Siro from United, was eligible to play against United but the Rossoneri were without ex-United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic – who has a thigh injury – and he joined an injury list that included big hitters Theo Hernandez, Ismael Bennacer, Hakan Calhanoglu, Ante Rebic, and Mario Mandzukic.
They could, however, field Fikayo Tomori (on loan from Chelsea), and Brahim Diaz – the ex-City midfielder on loan from Real Madrid.
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sanguine despite the Reds being seconds away from taking a 1-0 lead to Milan before their late equaliser.
“Milan are a good team so a draw was a fair result.” conceded the Norwegian after the game.
“We are very disappointed to concede with one of the last kicks of the ball.
“That makes it harder but it was always going to be hard to go to the San Siro.”
On the late concession of the away goal, Solskjaer conceded that the job in Milan was a little harder after the Reds gave away an injury time equaliser, with Dean Henderson seemingly at fault.
“I’ve seen Dean save them but we dropped too deep, [Simon] Kjaer’s made a good run and we could have stopped it.”
Although it was too early to confirm the injury to Anthony Martial, Solskjaer suggested that United’s team in Milan next week could be stronger, adding: “We’ll get players back, they’ll get players back. Hopefully Marcus [Rashford] and Edinson [Cavani] will be ready for next week.“
He was delighted with the first goal for Amad Diallo, on his third appearance for the Reds, saying: “Great pass by Bruno, nice goal for Amad but he has loads to learn.
And inconsistent United were lucky not to be behind after 11 minutes as they started slowly after the fireworks at the Etihad on Sunday.
Milan had two early goals chalked off for offside and a VAR assisted handball call from Rafael Leao and the superb Franck Kessie respectively as the injury-hit visitors had the better chances at Old Trafford.
Henderson did save a shot by Alexis Saelemaekers after Diaz found him with an incisive pass.
United had showed little going forward – with just a shot by Anthony Martial tipped over by Gianluigi Donnarumma but without the creativity of Bruno Fernandes – the Portuguese looked off the pace again with passes going astray and Daniel James jumping the gun by starting from an offside position.
The Reds did craft an unlikely chance to take the lead in the 38th minute when they contrived to hit the woodwork.
Saelemaekers brought down Fernandes 20 yards from goal but Telles’ free kick hit Harry Maguire in the wall and bounced clear for a corner as Milan scrambled to clear it.
From the resulting corner Fernandes flicked on Telles’ ball but Maguire shinned the ball against the post from a yard after Donnarumma got a fingertip to it and the spinning ball somehow bounced clear of the gaping goalmouth.
Anthony Martial limps off, but his replacement Amad Diallo comes on to score his first Manchester United goal
Anthony Martial had limped off at half time and was replaced at the interval by Amad Diallo who went on the right flank with Greenwood going up top.
And it only took 5 minutes for the Ivorian to score after a great pass from Fernandes over the top which was headed by the winger, with his back to goal, past Donnarumma to open the scoring.
It was his first goal for United, with his first ever shot for the club and in only his third (substitute) appearance to become the fourth youngest European scorer for the Reds at 18 years, 243 days – behind Mason Greenwood, Rashford, and George Best.
Daniel James was blocked off by Davide Calabria as United looked to get a quick second.
Kessie had a shot saved by Henderson as Milan chased the equaliser with Rade Krunic heading over the bar while Saelemaekers’ shot was tame and easy for Henderson to save.
Diaz and Saelemaekers made way after 69 minutes with Sandro Tonali and Samu Castillejo coming on.
And Daniel James blazed over with the goal at his mercy with rain lashing Old Trafford as United reacted with a triple change – James, Fernandes and Aaron Wan-Bissaka came off for Fred, Luke Shaw, and Brandon Williams.
And Calabria was replaced by Pierre Kalulu as the game remained tight.
McTominay was lucky not to get another yellow card for a late foul on Krunic with 7 minutes to go but Milan wasted the free kick – with the Bosnian sending the ball into the wall.
Milan could not make the most of the chances that came their way with Kalulu’s cross wayward while Leao waited at the back post.
Leao also failed to connect with a volleying chance laid on by Kessie as the game drifted away from the Italians until they hit a 92nd minute sucker punch from a corner.
Simon Kjaer’s stoppage time header from Krunic’s corner went in over Henderson’s head, catching the keeper by surprise and gaining the Italians a massive away goal seconds from the end.
GOALS – Manchester United 1, AC Milan 1 (UEFA Europa League)
Man Utd 1, AC Milan 0: 50. Amad Diallo scored with an instinctive back header after Bruno Fernandes pumped a long ball into the area from deep in midfield.
Man Utd 1, AC Milan 1: 90+2. Simon Kjaer headed home Rade Krunic’s corner past Dean Henderson who could only flap at the ball which was directed close to him.
MATCH STATS – Manchester United 1, AC Milan 1 (UEFA Europa League)
Man Utd: Henderson, Wan-Bissaka (Williams 74), Bailly, Maguire, Telles, McTominay, Matic, James (Fred 74), Fernandes (Shaw 74), Martial (Diallo 46), Greenwood
Man Utd subs not used: Grant, Lindelof, Bishop, Tuanzebe, Shoretire
Booked: McTominay 55 (foul on Gianluigi Donnarumma)
Goal: Diallo 50
AC Milan: Gianluigi Donnarumma, Calabria (Kalulu 74), Kjaer, Tomori, Dalot, Krunic, Meite, Kessie, Saelemaekers (Castillejo 69), Rafael Leao, Diaz (Tonali 69)
AC Milan Subs not used: Antonio Donnarumma, Tatarusanu, Tonin, Gabbia
Goal: Kjaer 90+2
Booked: Saelemaekers 18 (foul on Alex Telles)
Referee: Slavko Vincic