ERIK TEN HAG was left frustrated as Manchester United failed to kill off a game again.
It has become a recurring theme under the boss.
EPAChristian Eriksen was the Jekyll and Hyde double act for Man Utd against FC Twente[/caption]
GettyEriksen rifled home the opener near the end of the first half[/caption]
GettySam Lammers slotted home a second-half equaliser[/caption]
Before the game he had urged his players to find that lethal touch in the box to finish teams off.
But despite having 19 efforts at goal only five were on target and one of them was from a Twente player
They had failed to take chances in the goalless draw at Crystal Palace at the weekend too.
New coach Ruud van Nistelrooy is still to work his magic on the Carrington Training pitches.
Last night on top from a Christian Eriksen strike on 35 minutes it seemed they were going to have the perfect start against Ten Hag’s former club in this Europa League opener.
He had said before the game ‘‘it is not nice to have to hurt something you love’ as he sensed victory against the team he played for in three spells and still supports.
But they were the one’s breaking his heart with a second-half equaliser to share the points through Sam Lammers.
There was a nice touch before the game when Steve McClaren was presented with a commemorative plaque on the pitch by Sir Alex Ferguson.
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MClaren was of course Ferguson’s assistant in that amazing treble season of 1998-99 and has just left the club after his second spell to become boss of Jamaica.
More importantly for the lively visiting fans he was FC Twente coach when they won their first and only Dutch title which he achieved in 2009-10.
He was given a rousing reception by them as they chanted his name.
They very nearly had something else to celebrate early in the game when Diogio Dalot lost out to Bart van Rooij who crossed into the six yard box.
Lammers got the slightest of touches to deflect wide and beyond Andre Onana but the ball ran just wide of the far post.
Marcus Rashford was back in the team after being left out the starting line up for that game at Selhurst Park.
It was a surprise move given that he had scored three goals and in two games and brought much comment from pundit’s to the annoyance of Erik ten Hag who has emphasised his need to rotate with so many games coming thick and fast.
Anyway Rashford clearly had a point to prove not just to Ten Hag but interim England boss Lee Carsley who was in the stands.
AlamyMarcus Rashford looked bright throughout[/caption]
PAWhile Joshua Zirkzee struggled to have a huge influence on the game[/caption]
Rashford’s form last season saw him lose out on a place in Gareth Southgate’s Euros squad but Carsley has already proved he is prepared to give players another chance.
Rashforfd looked lively from the start tearing down the left flank as Amad Diallo did likewise down the right.
He was full of tricks with one nutmeg drawing huge cheers.
There was very nearly a bizarre own goal in United’s favour in the 26th minute.
When Lisandro Martinez thumped a header across goal towards Thomas Zirkzee, Mees Hilgers intervened with a flick but it forced his goalkeeper Lars Unnerstall into an incredible save at his top corner.
The Red Devils took the lead through a fabulous strike from Eriksen.
APLammers thundered an effort past Andre Onana[/caption]
GettyThere were jubilant celebrations from the Dutch side[/caption]
Bruno Fernandes played the ball into the box for Diogo Dalot and when he was challenged it broke loose.
Eriksen was first onto with a first time drive that flew into the far top corner.
United in the asdency but Ten Hag will have wanted them to press that advantage home.
Diallo tried to do just that as he turned on the afterburners and tore into the box to win a corner soon after the break.
Eriksen swung it over and when Harry Maguire met it with his head the ball was blocked and fell back to the United centre-back whose volley was straight at the goalkeeper.
Rashford was having a good night and when he disposssesed Youri Regeer and ran half the length of the pitch he found Eriksen who fed it onto Noussair Mzaraoui.
The move brokedown however as United’s new full-back played a chipped cross that found nobody.
Too many moves break down.
Lisandro Martinez reminded everybody why he was nicknamed ‘The Butcher of Amsterdam’ in his time at Ajax when he took out Sam Steijn 30 yards from United’s goal.
It earned him a booking and the visitors a free kick. Steijn picked himself up to take it and his low shot around the wall almost crept into the far corner but was denied by Onana’s finger tips.
Warning served and they would draw level in the 67th minute.
Bart Van Rooij charged through the United ranks before he was intercepted by Manuel Ugarte.
The ball broke to Eriksen who thought he had more time than he did and his pocket was picked by Lammers who then charged into the box and fired home at Onana’s near post.
In injury time a Maguire header was saved in front of the line.
Back to the drawing board, again.
ReutersKobbie Mainoo had a late penalty appeal waved away[/caption]
PAHarry Maguire forced a late scare with an injury time header[/caption]
