United's own goals in the quarterfinal against Sevilla have created a tight contest.

Sevilla salvaged a 2-2 draw from the first leg of their quarterfinal match at Old Trafford on Thursday, giving Manchester United work to do to advance to the Europa League semi-finals.

 

With two goals in the first 21 minutes from Marcel Sabitzer, United seemed to be cruising to victory.

However, Tyrell Malacia and Harry Maguire deflected balls into their own net in the final six minutes plus stoppage time, making the loss of center-backs Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez costly.

For the second leg on April 20, Bruno Fernandes will be suspended after receiving a yellow card, so United will also be without him.

Marcus Rashford, the home team's leading goal scorer with 28 goals, was injured, but the hosts still defeated the Spaniards easily before halftime thanks to Sabitzer's two goals.

The Austrian midfielder had scored only once for United in 12 previous appearances, but twice pierced through the Sevilla defence with well-timed runs and composed finishes.

Anthony Martial's return for injury is a timely boost for Erik ten Hag with Rashford set to be sidelined for a few weeks.

The Frenchman has been a peripheral figure since the Dutchman took charge, but Ten Hag said on the eve of the game that his side play their best football with Martial up front.

So it proved in the opening quarter as Martial had a hand in both of Sabitzer's goals.

Martial's hold-up play eventually saw the ball worked to Fernandes, who fired a ball into Sabitzer's feet and the on-loan Bayern Munich midfielder coolly slotted past Bono.

Just a few moments later Sabitzer had his second.

Martial was this time the creator with a perfect pass through for Sabitzer to again leave Bono in the Sevilla goal with no chance.

Casemiro's first appearance for nearly a month due to a four-game Premier League ban added authority to the United midfield and the Brazilian should have marked the occasion with a goal after more good approach play by Martial.

Sevilla are fighting a relegation battle in LaLiga and it showed until a late flurry as they only briefly threatened to bring the tie to life. 

Tanguy Nianzou's powerful header in first-half stoppage time was saved by David De Gea before Varane completed the clearance off the line.

Antony came closest to adding to United's lead in the second half when the winger struck the inside of the post with Fernandes begging for a pass in a better position.

Malacia should also have done better when teed up by Wout Weghorst in acres of space inside the Sevilla box.

Ten Hag showed his thoughts were already turning to a trip to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League Sunday as Fernandes and Martial made way in the final half-hour.

That decision proved costly as Malacia dallied to allow Jesus Navas to pounce inside the United box, the former Manchester City winger's cross deflecting off the Dutch left-back to wrong-foot De Gea.

De Gea then produced a brilliant save to deny Youssef En-Nesyri an equalizer.

But United's reprieve only lasted seconds as another En-Nesyri header cannoned off Maguire and into the net in the 92nd minute.

Europa League Results

Quarter-final first legs

Feyenoord 1 (Wieffer 53) Roma 0

Man Utd 2 (Sabitzer 14, 21) Sevilla 2 (Malacia 84-og, Maguire 90+2-og)

Juventus 1 (Gatti 73) Sporting 0

Leverkusen 1 (Wirtz 82) Union Saint-Gilloise 1 (Boniface 51)

Europa Conference League Results

Quarter-final first legs

Gent 1 (Cuypers 57) West Ham United 1 (Ings 45+3)

Lech Poznan 1 (Velde 20) Fiorentina 4 (Cabral 4, Gonzalez 41, Bonaventura 58, Ikone 63)

Anderlecht 2 (Murillo 22, Ashimeru 70) Alkmaar 0

Basel 2 (Amdouni 26-P, 71) Nice 2 (Moffi 38, 45+1)