MANCHESTER UNITED ARE in danger of ending their participation in European competitions for the season as they entertain Danish outfit FC Midtjylland at Old Trafford tonight.
Kick-off is less than an hour away and we’ll have teams in a tick.
The big news is that there’s a full senior debut for versatile 19-year-old Joe Riley, who comes in at full-back.
Sergio Romero deputises for David de Gea as the Spaniard is injured for the third match, while Chris Smalling (knock), Wayne Rooney (knee) and Matteo Darmien (shoulder) are missing.
MANCHESTER UNITED: Romero, Varela, Carrick, Blind, Riley, Schneiderlin, Ander Herrera, Lingard, Mata, Memphis, Martial.
MIDTJYLLAND: Andersen, Rømer, Hansen, Bodurov, Novak, Sparv, Poulsen, Olsson, Hassan, Sisto, Urena.
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LATE INJURY NEWS - Anthony Martial has pulled out of the warm-up and is replaced in the starting XI by 18-year-old striker Marcus Rashford.
That takes the wounded list to 14 first team players.
KICK-OFF – We’ve just begun here.
United have lined out in a 4-2-3-1 with Michael Carrick partnering Daley Blind at centre-half and Rashford the lone striker.
In the opening minutes, Memphis Depay steps inside past two defenders and has a strike on his right foot, but it is blocked by a black shirt.
The Red Devils have begun on the front foot in the first 15 minutes, which is unsurprising given the fact that they need to score to avoid an early exit from the competition.
More pressure from United. Depay can’t bring an end product after strong running, then Anderson collects Lingard’s deflected cross.
CHANCE! Rashford comes for a throw-in, comes inside and fires at goal and Mikkel Anderson has to tip the ball around the post for a corner.
What a way that would have been to mark your debut.
Good build-up play creates a chance for United, but the Danes half-clear before Lingard’s block hits the sidenetting.
GOAL! Manchester United 0-1 Midtjylland (1-3 on aggregate) (Sisto)
Big trouble for the home side! Danish international Pione Sisto is allowed space to turn on the edge of the box and score past Romero.
https://streamable.com/roex
GOAL! Manchester United 1-1 Midtjylland (2-3 on aggregate) (Bodurov own-goal)
A quick response from United and they’re level on the night. Memphirs runs at the opposing defence and squares the ball where Fulham’s on-loan defender Nikolay Bodurov puts into his own net.
PENALTY TO MAN UNITED!
First, Schneiderlin hits the post with a header then Herrara is brought down by Romer in the box.
PENALTY SAVED! Anderson guesses right and keeps Mata’s spot-kick out.
Half-time: Manchester United 1-1 Midtjylland (2-3 on aggregate)
SECOND HALF – One change to bring you as Midtjylland have taken off Ureña for Nigerian striker Paul Onuachu, who scored in last week’s first leg.
How have they not scored there?
First, Mata finds Schneiderlin with a super pass and the Frenchman misses the target.
Then Memphis, who has been the best player on the pitch so far, crosses for Herrera and but his header is the wrong side of the post.
GOAL! Manchester United 2-1 Midtjylland (3-3 on aggregate) (Rashford)
Incredible! Marcus Rashford, who only got the nod to play because of Anthony Martial’s injury minutes before kick-off, scores on his senior debut for the club.
A period of pressure results in a cross to the back post, where Mata cuts it back for the striker to fire home. All square now.
YELLOW CARD – Lingard goes down in the box and and is rightly booked for diving.
GOAL! Manchester United 3-1 Midtjylland (4-3 on aggregate) (Rashford)
A second for the teenager! The ball is worked well by United and Varela crosses for the unmarked Rashford to double his tally for the night.
The home side are ahead in the tie.
https://streamable.com/1vc4
ANOTHER PENALTY TO UNITED…
GOAL! Manchester United 4-1 Midtjylland (5-3 on aggregate) (Herrera)
Memphis has been brilliant at times tonight. Look at this for a nutmeg…
RED CARD! Romer gets his second yellow and his marching orders, meaning Midtjylland are down to 10.
GOAL! Manchester United 5-1 Midtjylland (6-3 on aggregate) (Memphis)
The Dutchman’s performance deserved a goal and he’s finally got it. Cutting inside, he drives the ball into the bottom corner from 20 yards.
Full-time: Manchester United 5-1 Midtjylland (United progress 6-3 on aggregate)
