In the end, two outstretched hands were decisive. The first, from Bruno Fernandes, probably denied Manchester United their victory; the second, from André Onana, definitely denied Real Sociedad theirs.
United deservedly got themselves into a first-leg lead when Joshua Zirkzee guided a side-footed shot beyond Alex Remiro that appeared to set them up for a win and potentially even one big enough to virtually see them through. But an eagle eye and a video replay revived their Basque opponents, allowing Mikel Oyarzabal to equalise from the spot with 20 minutes left and in the last of those they nearly scored again. Which was when a figure in yellow flew to the rescue.
Ultimately, a 1-1 draw is not a bad result for United, and Onana’s sensational save from Orri Óskarsson ensured that they return to Old Trafford level but frustrated. “It could be better, it could be worse,” Ruben Amorim said. It also offered little evidence that United have overcome their most pressing, immediate problems. Instead, it highlighted flaws, leaving them to reflect on the moments when they could have provided the final pass and, in particular, applied the finish.
“It is clear we have to be more clinical,” Amorim said. “We’re creating chances. Sometimes you don’t see that in the xG because we manage not to shoot. Sometimes we are missing something.” The manager talked of United’s “anxiousness” to score here, a mental block that needs to be broken, and there is tiredness to deal with too. That, Amorim said, was increasingly evident in the final minutes when his side looked overrun.
Beyond that there is something deeper, more basic. The game began with United’s players waiting for a long punt in their rough direction, and for much of the opening period that felt like it had set the tone. Soon after, Fernandes looked up, appealed for some movement and struck a long diagonal out of play, which did too. The game was cautious and imprecise. When Beñat Turrientes slipped and his shot dribbled apologetically wide, it was eloquent. As was the fact that the referee, Ivan Kruzliak, immediately pointed at his watch and told Onana to hurry up. They had been playing only 18 minutes and it was already dragging a bit.
That Real Sociedad had more possession with little threat at least offered United space into which to run, seen when Noussair Mazraoui released Diogo Dalot. Rasmus Højlund was screaming for it, first time, inside the area but instead Dalot slowed, turned back and went to Garnacho. The chance was lost and the move concluded with Patrick Dorgu slicing over, while Højlund justifiably made his displeasure very visible. “The decision was not the best,” Amorim said. “The important thing is to move on [and] not be still fighting.”
The next time was better too, at least in inception. A superb pass released Dalot, who pulled it back for Fernandes by the penalty spot. Fernandes’s shot was blocked by Aritz Elustondo, Zirkzee’s first follow-up hit Remiro’s legs and his second scuffed wide, something a little comic in how it had all unravelled. What was it Amorim had said? “There are things that are hard to explain. Sometimes it’s luck.”
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Sometimes it is; other times, it is just not that good. When Fernandes lifted a pass into the area Dalot dropped his header harmlessly into Remiro’s arms. But at least United were getting chances and those became clearer and more frequent, red shirts beginning to stream through the middle. A smart pass from Fernandes and a neat flick from Zirkzee set up Dorgu to drive the ball across the six-yard box, through four men, Højlund included, only for Garnacho to hit the side netting. Next, Fernandes set up Garnacho for another effort. And then United were away, Dalot supplying Garnacho who drew in three defenders and teed up Zirkzee to sidefoot through Turrientes’s legs and past Remiro.
All that had happened within eight second-half minutes and a moment later Garnacho hit the side netting again. “We were in control. We were so near to getting the second, you could feel the stadium was nervous,” Amorim reflected, “but the penalty changed it.” As Fernandes jumped with Nayef Aguerd on 70 minutes he reached out an arm that few here saw but in the video assistant referee room they did. From the spot, Oyarzabal smashed the ball past Onana. It was Real Sociedad’s first shot on target, and suddenly they were in this.
Not just in it but chasing victory, led by the substitutes Sheraldo Becker and Orri Óskarsson. As they ran, United faded. Onana brilliantly pushed away a superb Brais Méndez shot and then Real should have gone ahead when Becker’s perfectly weighted delivery reached Óskarsson. Six yards out, he nudged wide with the outside of his right boot. The next time Becker received, the pass was the same; this time, Matthijs de Ligt slipped but somehow scrambled it away. United were on edge and when Oyarzabal’s superb pass set up Óskarsson on 93 minutes, they needed Onana to take off once more, left hand outstretched.
Source: theguardian.com
