Real Sociedad’s Mikel Oyarzabal coolly netted a penalty to hold Manchester United to a 1-1 draw in a Europa League last 16 first leg clash on Thursday.
The Red Devils are enduring a woeful season and winning the competition offers their only realistic route to Champions League football, but they could not protect their lead in San Sebastian.
Dutch forward Joshua Zirkzee netted his first goal in five games to send Ruben Amorim’s side ahead at the Reale Arena before the hour mark but Bruno Fernandes conceded a penalty for handball, which Oyarzabal dispatched in the 70th minute.
The hosts came close to snatching a winner late on but Orri Oskarsson twice failed to finish and the match is evenly poised ahead of the second leg at Old Trafford next Thursday.
“It’s a shame about those chances that escaped us at the end, but the tie is open, we’re going there alive, with a lot of desire,” said Oyarzabal.
“Until we scored it was hard for us to create chances, although I don’t think we suffered that much (defensively) either.”
Amorim was left with just 18 players to call on because of an injury crisis, with Harry Maguire and Manuel Ugarte joining the likes of Amad Diallo, Kobbie Mainoo and Luke Shaw on the sidelines.
Up front the Portuguese coach started with Rasmus Hojlund, who extended his barren run without a goal to 19 matches, while strike-partner Zirkzee now has two in his last 17 games.
Amorim said Wednesday it was not “crucial” for his team to win the competition but suggested it could turn around a dire season, with the club 14th in the Premier League and dumped out of the other cups.
The first half was a drab affair with neither side attacking with confidence or edge, although the Premier League giants came closest.
Real Sociedad defender Aritz Elustondo blocked Fernandes and Zirkzee shots as United shaded the first 45 minutes in San Sebastian.
