Man Utd 1-1 Milan: VAR denies Rossoneri twice as Kjaer rescues draw

Milan had two goals disallowed and Manchester United missed a couple of sitters, but Simon Kjaer snatched a deserved 1-1 draw at Old Trafford after Amad Diallo’s header.

Match Report

This was the battle of the Red Devils, the first time the clubs met in the Europa League, after 10 in the Champions League and European Cup. Both had serious injury problems, missing Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Mario Mandzukic, Ismael Bennacer, Hakan Calhanoglu, Theo Hernandez, Ante Rebic and Alessio Romagnoli, so Diogo Dalot faced his parent club. The hosts were without Edinson Cavani, Paul Pogba, Marcus Rashford, Donny van de Beek, Juan Mata and David de Gea.

Rafael Leao was the only available striker and had the ball in the net after five minutes, but had wandered offside.

Gianluigi Donnarumma pushed an Anthony Martial snapshot over, but Milan saw another goal disallowed when Franck Kessie hit a scorcher into the top corner. The ball had grazed his arm when he chested it down and that was considered handball.

Milan were playing better than the hosts, despite having so many stars missing, and Jordan Henderson smothered a deflected Rade Krunic effort before having his gloves stung by Alexis Saelemaekers.

The first genuine chance Manchester United created was from a set play on 39 minutes, flicked on to the back post by Bruno Fernandes, where Harry Maguire somehow managed to bundle it onto the upright from a yard.

Anthony Martial was replaced by former Atalanta teenager Amad Diallo and he made the immediate difference by breaking the deadlock. Bruno Fernandes floated a ball over the top, Fikayo Tomori was caught out and Diallo flicked his header backwards over Donnarumma.

Brahim Diaz had a shot charged down and Kessie forced another save, while Aaron Wan-Bissaka made a risky challenge on Brahim Diaz.

Krunic nodded over from a Davide Calabria cross and Saelemaekers again scuffed a finish set up by Kessie. Yet, once again, they almost conceded against the run of play when Greenwood rolled across the face of goal and Daniel James incredibly fired wide.

Scott McTominay was very fortunate to avoid a second yellow card when he brought down Krunic just outside the D as he was preparing to shoot on 83 minutes.

Leao hit a fresh-air volley when set up by Kessie in the final minute, but he did win a decisive corner that found Simon Kjaer for a free header. It was a more than deserved draw and away goal.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

5' Disallowed! Leao scores but the goal is offside

12' Goooal... No! Kessie’s goal disallowed after VAR review

17' Yellow Card! Saelemaekers booked

26' Krunic's shot denied

31' Saelemaekers' shot stopped

39' Maguire's header wide out

43' CLOSE! Maguire hits the post

49' GOAL! Man Utd 1-0 Milan (Amad Diallo Traore)

54' Yellow Card! McTominay booked

59' Henderson parries Kessie's shot

65' Krunic's header over the bar

72' James misses a good chance

88' Donnarumma makes a timely clearance

Line-ups

Man Utd XI: Matic, Alex Telles, Maguire, Martial, Bruno Fernandes, Bailly, Daniel James, Dean Henderson, Wan-Bissaka, McTominay, Greenwood

Subs: Grant, Lindelof, Fred, Shaw, Tuanzebe, Bishop, Brandon Williams, S. Shoretire, Amad Diallo Traore

Milan XI: Kjaer, Meite, Krunic, Calabria, Kessie, Tomori, Donnarumma, Dalot, Brahim, Leao, A. Saelemaekers

Subs: Tatarusanu, Antonio Donnarumma, Castillejo, Gabbia, Tonali, Kalulu, Riccardo Tonin