Anderlecht 1-1 Manchester United

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Anderlecht 1-1 Manchester United: Report and reaction (April 13 2017)

Henrikh Mkhitaryan struck on Manchester United's Europa League travels yet again, but Leander Dendoncker's late header leaves the quarter-final clash with Anderlecht intriguingly-poised.

May's Stockholm finale is beginning to come into sight after a long, arduous campaign that has undoubtedly taken a toll on their Premier League ambitions.

United's hopes of adding the Europa League to their bulging trophy collection - and securing a Champions League return - remain intact, but there is work to do after Mkhitaryan's first-half goal was cancelled out by a Dendoncker sucker punch as the first leg ended 1-1.

The quarter-final was the fourth successive European trip the Armenian has netted on and Mourinho's relief to return to Old Trafford with an away goal will no doubt be tinged with disappointment after allowing victory to slip away.

First-half endeavour was all too infrequently matched by quality at the small but atmospheric Constant Vanden Stock Stadium, where security was stepped up days on from the Dortmund bomb attack.

Jesse Lingard hit the post on United's first voyage forwards and Mkhitaryan broke the deadlock as half-time approach, turning in from an acute angle after Marcus Rashford was denied during a fine, one-touch move.

Mkhitaryan went close again with a smart volley as Anderlecht first European quarter-final appearance for 20 years looked set to end in defeat, only for lax defending to allow Dendoncker to power home an equaliser.

There was a pleasant atmosphere around the city and stadium despite Tuesday's attack on Borussia Dortmund's team bus increasing the pre-match focus on security.

Armed guards were visible outside the stadium, where fans were prohibited from bringing bags due to concerns over terrorist incidents in a city where 32 were killed during coordinate attacks last March.

Fans were warned to get to the stadium early to go through security checks on a night when United looked comfortable early on as Mourinho plumped for a strong side.

Frank Acheampong and Isaac Kiese Thelin failed with early attempts to throw the visitors off kilter, but such chances became an increasing rarity as they tried to keep it tight.

United were playing the ball around without an edge until Rashford's fine, curling cross fell invitingly for Zlatan Ibrahimovic - a close-range shot denied by Martinez Ruben, with Lingard's unorthodox follow-up coming back off the post.

United were on top from that point and, after Rashford tried his luck from 25 yards, Anderlecht's defence was prised open as pressure paid dividends in the 37th minute.

Ibrahimovic smartly directed Paul Pogba's pass wide to the marauding Antonio Valencia, whose first-time cross was met by a Rashford shot bound for the bottom corner until a fine Ruben save.

Unfortunately for the Anderlecht goalkeeper, Mkhitaryan was first to react to the rebound and directed home from a tight angle.

Mourinho punched the air in celebration and smoke soon billowed out of the away end for the second time, leading the stadium announcer to implore United's travelling fans not to use fireworks.

The half-time whistle was timely respite for Anderlecht, with Rene Weiler's men returning for the second half reinvigorated.

Nicolae Stanciu curled a free-kick over from the edge of the box before Valencia dealt with a drive from Massimo Bruno and Acheampong's follow up.

However, Mkhitaryan was close to jolting United from their slumber in style within 10 minutes of the restart, meeting a Matteo Darmian cross with a guided left-footed volley just wide.

Rashford's speculative was dealt with by Ruben and Ivan Obradovic was guilty of wasting a chance at the other end, before getting booked for clattering Rashford.

Alexandru Chipciu's penalty claims were ignored before fellow Anderlecht substitute Sofiane Hanni saw a shot blocked as the match became increasingly scrappy, with Marouane Fellaini seeing an attempt to make himself even more unpopular in Brussels denied.

The towering midfielder saw a header dealt with more comfortably than Pogba's attempt moments earlier - missed chances United were made to rue.

Obradovic was allowed to run down the left and swing in a threatening cross that Dendoncker beat Darmian all too easily to, powering a header past Sergio Romero to send the locals wild and secure the draw.
Post-match reaction


Mancheste United boss Jose Mourinho to BT Sport 2: "We have to kill matches. We have chances, we have control, we don't score goals - we risk.

"(We have) lots of space to play, lots of space to kill. Lots of chances that you don't transform because of a bad decision, bad control, a sloppy touch or a flick.

"Very bad decisions in the last third and then a team with a good organisation defensively, very compact. But then one chance or one mistake and you get punished.

"I think you have to play more seriously. You put all together a performance of two or three or four of our attacking players and you squeeze not much juice out of it.

"The people behind are very solid and focused. If I were one of my defenders I would be very disappointed because they had serious work and the people who had to kill the game didn't."

When asked if he was impressed with the performance of 19-year-old striker Marcus Rashford, who was arguably the Red Devils' greatest threat going forward, Mourinho said: "The same as the others. Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Anthony Martial - I think they were very similar (in not killing the game off)."

Manchester United now face Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday: "We are fifth in the league and have mathematically chances to improve our position and while it's mathematically possible we will try."

Michael Carrick to BT Sport 2: "It was frustrating but we were so in control in the first half and we got sloppy.

"We've got to kill teams off and we were in control of the game but we didn't do that. It was frustrating but we didn't do that and we should have won that game comfortably.

"I'm completely disappointed really. We need to be more ruthless and kill things off, it's as simple as that. It's too comfortable. It was almost too easy at times and we got sloppy and lost possession. It's one of those scorelines where it's dangerous.

"We look at the result and obviously it's not the end of the world for us and we're still in a good position going into the second leg, but it's frustrating and we're better than that.

"We stay positive and look forward to the next game and if we play well we'll go through.

"We dominated. There were a lot of good things. It's not easy coming away in Europe and dominating games."