MAN UNITED 1, FC TWENTE 1
Christian Eriksen went from hero to zero in almost the blink of an eye as Manchester United made a faltering start to their Europa League campaign.
The Dane scored a screamer to put the Reds ahead against their Dutch opponents, where Erik ten Hag started his career in football, in the first-ever meeting between the two teams.
Twente, who had previously only won once in 13 matches on English soil, equalised midway through the second half following a blunder by Eriksen.
The midfielder, making his 100th appearance in European club competitions, was caught in possession by Sam Lammers and the ex-Glasgow Rangers player sprinted clear to bend a shot past keeper Andre Onana in front of the 4,000 jubilant visiting fans.
But other players were also culpable in the build-up to Lammers’ leveller, notably Harry Maguire.
Though United had 19 goal attempts to Twente’s seven, they lacked a cutting edge. And when they found a route to goal, they found veteran German keeper Lars Unnerstall unbeatable.
Eriksen said: “I think mostly disappointed as a team, we wanted more in the end, far from good enough. They looked like they wanted it more – that can’t be right.
“I think everyone is looking at themselves, everyone is a professional footballer, they know what to do, what can’t happen. We don’t lose but it feels like a loss.”
Embed from Getty ImagesTen Hag, who was taking on the club he supported as a boy and who he played for in three different spells, said his side only had itself to blame.
With tough away matches at Porto and Fenerbahce next, ten Hag said: “”It’s the first game, it’s very important you get a win.
“It was the game of their lives and they fought for every yard – we didn’t.
“We had to go for a second goal and kill off the game. We created enough chances, ans we have to work on it.
“It is not only those two players [Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee] We have enough players who can score along the front line.
“We have to be more clinical, something we have to work on. It is a question of mentality and getting a second goal to kill off the game.”
“We kept them alive, 1-0 up, controlling the game you have to be consistent and keep going. In the second half we dropped the level, gave the goal away.
“We didn’t finish it off, we had to go for the second goal and so they stay alive, and we get punished with a mistake from ourselves.”
“The goal it’s team, a player of Twente can dribble through the pitch without stopping. We can’t give a goal away like this.
“We have seen again you have to keep going for the whole game, once 1-0 up you have to keep going, go for the second.”
Ten Hag made three changes to the side which played out a goalless draw with Crystal Palace.
Marcus Rashford returned to the starting line-up after missing out at the weekend. Maguire started in defence and Manuel Ugarte came in for his first start for the club since joining in the summer, replacing Kobbie Mainoo.
There were two changes to the FC Twente side who won 5-0 against Almere at the weekend.
Michel Vlap and former Norwich City striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel started in place of Carel Eiting and Daan Rots.
Twente made a bright start and came within a whisker of taking an eighth minute lead.
Anass Salah-Rooij robbed Diogo Dalot before firing over a low cross for Lammers who glanced a side-foot shot just wide of the far upright, a let-off for the Reds.
United came close to taking the lead through an unlikely source, defender Mees Hilgers who almost sliced Lisandro Martinez’ header past keeper Unnerstall who produced a fine fingertip save to turn the ball over the bar.
The deadlock was broken in the 35th minute through Eriksen’s super strike.
Dalot made a forward burst and was tackled inside the box before the ball ran free to Eriksen who found the top corner from 15 yards with a screamer, his third goal of the season.
Twente came close to equalising on the hour when Salah-Eddine’s free kick from 30 yards forced a fine save from Andre Onana to turn the ball around the post for a corner.
United made their first change mid-half, Alejandro Garnacho replacing Amad Diallo.
Twente drew level in the 67th minute with a superbly worked goal.
Van Rooij made a terrific burst from defence past five players into the United half. Eriksen appeared to have stepped him only to be robbed by Lammers who sprinted clear before curling a shot beyond Onana for his fourth goal of the season.
Suddenly there was a renewed sense of urgency from United as Joshua Zirkzee had an effort turned over by Unnerstall.
That was followed by a triple substitution as Rashford, Zirkzee and Eriksen made way for Rasmus Hojlund, Kobbie Mainoo and Mason Mount.
United had chances to win in the latter stages as Bruno Fernandes and Garnacho went close while in stoppage time Martinez flicked Harry Maguire’s header towards goal with Unnerstall making a super reflex save.