Manchester United and Real Sociedad head into their UEFA Europa League last-16 second leg with parity, after playing out a 1-1 draw in San Sebastian.
United will need to banish their recent woes at Old Trafford in order to advance in the competition, and could well have taken an advantage into their home leg if not for a penalty awarded out of seemingly nowhere.
Ruben Amorim’s side spurned multiple chances to take a first-half lead, as Diogo Dalot failed to play Rasmus Hojlund in first-time for what surely would have been a tap-in, before Bruno Fernandes and Joshua Zirkzee had efforts cleared off the line by Aritz Elustondo.
United did take the lead in the tie, though. A renewed energy immediately after the break saw the visitors enjoy multiple forays forward, and their endeavour paid off when Zirkzee fired home from Alejandro Garnacho’s cutback with a neat, first-time finish.
The Premier League side seemed well in control, with Sociedad yet to test Andre Onana – but they were pegged back on 70 minutes after a VAR check adjudged Fernandes to have handled the ball from a corner – with Mikel Oyarzabal converting the spot-kick.
Sociedad had two late opportunities to take a lead into the second leg, but substitute Orri Oskarsson fired wide from close range before forcing a great Onana save in stoppage-time, leaving it all to play for at Old Trafford next week.