Manchester United vs Twente Review
Manchester United played a 1-1 draw with Twente at Old Trafford in the opening match of their UEFA Europa League season. This marks Manchester United’s fourth participation in UEFA’s second-tier European competition in the 11 years since Sir Alex Ferguson’s exit.
The home team quickly started to dominate the match, with Bruno Fernandes and Christian Eriksen having their shots blocked. Just 10 minutes before halftime, Eriksen scored after seizing a loose ball in the penalty area and firing it into the top corner, putting the Red Devils ahead 1-0 at the break. Joseph Oosting’s Twente team came out much stronger in the second half, taking control early on. Their efforts nearly paid off just before the hour mark when Sem Steijn attempted to sneak a low free kick into the far corner, but André Onana managed to adjust and make a low save.
In an effort to regain momentum for United, Ten Hag brought on Alejandro Garnacho shortly after the hour mark. However, the away team equalized in the 68th minute when Bart van Rooij made an impressive run forward. Although the fullback lost possession, Eriksen was slow to react, allowing Lammers to steal the ball and advance towards goal, where he scored past Onana at his near post.
Ten Hag responded by making a triple substitution, bringing in Mason Mount, Kobbie Mainoo, and Rasmus Højlund. Fernandes and Garnacho both came close to scoring, but their shots went just over the bar. Ultimately, United had to settle for a draw, missing the chance to secure all three points against one of the lowest-ranked teams in the competition. This result will boost Twente’s confidence, as they were considered underdogs before the match.
