Anderlecht came from behind to draw 1-1 with Manchester United in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final in Brussels on Thursday night.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan had given Man United a first-half lead, but Leander Dendoncker headed Anderlecht level in the 86th minute to leave the tie open ahead of next week’s second leg at Old Trafford.
Man United’s first real chance of the night came in the 17th minute when Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s blocked effort from a Rashford cross fell to Lingard, but the England international could only hit the post from close range as the visitors passed up two big chances to take the lead in Brussels.
Jose Mourinho’s side were purring, however, and they deservedly made the breakthrough in the 37th minute when Mkhitaryan converted from a wide angle after Ruben had got down well to keep out a testing strike from Rashford, whose pace caused the hosts all sorts of problems in the opening 45 minutes.
Man United’s came close to doubling their lead in the 55th minute when Matteo Darmian picked out Mkhitaryan’s boot with a brilliant cross from the left, but the Armenian’s volley just dropped wide of Ruben’s far post.
Paul Pogba had a glorious opportunity to double Man United’s lead in the 83rd minute after being released by Ibrahimovic, but the Frenchman could not find a route past Ruben in the Anderlecht goal.
The visitors incredibly levelled the scores in the 86th minute, however, when Dendoncker jumped above Darmian to head a brilliant Hanni cross into the back of the net, and that was how it finished in Brussels.
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