Three trophies in a single season? The ultimate treble is being talked about in Manchester’s blue half, and United fans had to be dreaming of their own version when they lead Sevilla by two goals to announce a step into the Europa League semi-finals. The Carabao Cup has already been won, and an FA Cup semi-final against Brighton is scheduled for this Sunday.
Even so, a night that began with such promise, with a two-goal volley from Marcel Sabitzer – the largest return that he has made since his January loan from Bayern Munich – and superb performances by Antony and Anthony Martial, who were both back in the starting Eleven, finished with a sting. Actually, there are a handful of them.
On 82 minutes, United should have added a third goal when replacement Wout Weghorst made space following a Sabitzer back-heel. He could have fired but elected to return to Tyrell Malacia, and the ball was not near enough to the full-left back’s foot. Malacia examined and unloaded when it was too late. The effort was thwarted.
That did not appear to be the most serious issue for United. Until then, Raphael Varane had been pulled off at halftime due to an injury. Or maybe it’s Bruno Fernandes’ violent handball booking, which keeps him out of the second match. But, United’s evening was about to unravel, with Malacia acting as the spark on the other end.
Malacia had a few nervous moments, and it is harsh but realistic to say that he is a long way from the level of Luke Shaw, the wounded first-choice left-back. Malacia made a terrible error in the 84th minute, missing the bounce of a play and allowing Sevilla replacement Jes Navas to cross in behind him. It would deflect off Malacia and go past David de Gea for just an opportunity.
Downgrades on favoured picks were a recurring issue for United that evening. Nobody thought Harry Maguire for Varane was a like-for-like move, nor did Weghorst for Martial or Anthony Elanga for Jadon Sancho.Weghorst and Elanga joined a three-man substitution just after the hour mark, with Christian Eriksen replacing Fernandes.
❌ Let a 2-0 lead slip vs Sevilla
🟨 Bruno Fernandes suspended for second leg
⚽️ Concede two own goals
🤕 Raphael Varane off injured
🤕 Lisandro Martinez off injured
🤕 No return date for Marcus RashfordTough times for Manchester United 🔴 pic.twitter.com/gAzD3lUzz9
— SPORTbible (@sportbible) April 13, 2023
Erik ten Hag seemed to be tempting fate at the moment. United, on the other hand, had been dominant. The manager was left to tally the costs as his squad disintegrated following the Malacia incident.
Another body blow would come when Lisandro Martnez was forced off, a tough pill to swallow given his season-long brilliance. He was taken out by his World Cup-winning Argentina colleagues Gonzalo Montiel and Marcos Acua, who wanted him gone as soon as possible since they knew United, who had utilised their substitutions and were down to 10 men, were waiting for him.
De Gea stopped a shot from substitute Suso before saving excellently from another substitution, Youssef En-Nesyri. As En-Nesyri leapt to meet another cross, Sevilla’s raucous fans were rewarded with a stoppage-time equaliser. His header collided with Maguire’s brow – it had to be Maguire – and flew in for a 2nd own goal.
Even though United were losing its spark, it was difficult to predict the reversal before the triple substitution and, certainly, when Malacia failed to capitalize. How they had ignited, bringing the intensity from the start, Antony on song, and Martial eager to make up for the lost time.
A rapid change of foot from Martial, followed by an audacious flick inside, set up United’s first goal, with Fernandes making the last ball and Sabitzer converting with a tiny deflection off Marcao.
United could have struck more before the break, but De Gea had to make a great save to keep Tanguy Nianzou’s 45th-minute header out. Varane completed the clearing with a back header from beneath his crossbar after the ball looped high.
The tension between Antony and Acuna was palpable throughout. Nemanja Gudelj scissor-kicked Casemiro in the forehead for another card in the dark orange zone after Erik Lamela put a boot in on the returning Casemiro for a caution – the VAR said no to red. Antony burst into the final hour to flare against the woodwork, and when he was replaced on 81 minutes, the home fans erupted in applause. They and their squad would be forced to finish on their knees.
