Joao Felix headed home from Renan Lodi's cross to give the lead to Atletico Madrid on eight minutes before Manchester United leveled the score through Anthony Elanga's 80th minute strike.
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Anthony Elanaga’s late strike earned a 1-1 draw for Manchester United against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League last-16 first leg tie at Wanda Metropolitano on Wednesday. Joao Felix headed home from Renan Lodi’s cross to put the hosts ahead early in the match. The Red Devils had the majority of ball possession but were far from threatening in the first half. However, Ralf Rangnick’s side pushed hard for the equaliser in the second half and finally got it when Elanga latched on to Bruno Fernandes’ pass and slotted home past Jan Oblak.
⏰ RESULT ⏰
Anthony Elanga the hero for Manchester United; João Félix nets brilliant opener…
? Fair result? #UCL
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) February 23, 2022
The hosts started the match brightly and duly took the lead after just seven minutes. Having cleared the initial corner, Atletico left-back Lodi collected the loose ball, got past Fred and delivered a beautiful cross for Felix to get past Harry Maguire and score at the near post with a diving header.
In response, Fernandes’ long-range attempt went over the bar. Meanwhile, Rangnick’s decision to play Victor Lindelof at right-back position was proving to be not so great as the Swedish center-back was struggling to contain Lodi. Three minutes after the half-hour mark, Lodi’s effort side-netted before Sime Vrasljko’s header hit the bar.
Onca again it was Lodi, who delivered a teasing cross into the box, which took a deflection off a United defender before finding Vrasljko at the far post, but the Croatian’s header struck the face of Lindelof, bounced off the turf and hit the crossbar.
After the break, Atleti sat back and defended pretty well for a major period of the game, keeping tight at the back and not giving any space for United attackers to work with. However a breakaway move ten minutes from time made it all square.
Fernandes slid the ball through for Elanga, Lodi failed to cut the pass and the 19 year-old was through on goal. He maintained his composure and deposited the ball into the far bottom corner.
There was still time for substitute Antonio Griezmann to curl the ball onto De Gea’s crossbar from Marcos Llorente’s pass in the final five minutes and the match ended 1-1, with everything to play for in the second leg at Old Trafford on 16 March.
