Christian Eriksen had a night of highs and lows for man united vs twente as they kicked off their Europa League campaign with a frustrating draw against FC Twente, the childhood club of manager Erik ten Hag.
Eriksen opened the scoring for United in the first half with a brilliant strike from inside the box, showcasing his skill and composure. However, the Danish midfielder turned villain when he lost possession just outside his own area, allowing Sam Lammers of Twente to capitalize with a powerful shot that beat goalkeeper Andre Onana.
Despite dominating possession and creating several chances, United struggled to find a winner in the closing stages. Twente’s goalkeeper, Lars Unnerstall, made crucial saves to deny Joshua Zirkzee and turned away a potential own goal from Mees Hilgers. Bruno Fernandes also came close to restoring United’s lead, while substitute Kobbie Mainoo had a penalty appeal dismissed.
Having finished bottom of their Champions League group last season, this draw was not the ideal start to United’s European journey, especially with a challenging away fixture against Porto looming on October 3. Nonetheless, the new competition format offers them ample opportunity to recover.
On a positive note, United remains unbeaten in four matches, though two of those have ended in draws. Interim England manager Lee Carsley was in attendance, evaluating players ahead of upcoming Nations League matches against Greece and Finland. With this in mind, it was notable that Marcus Rashford started the match after a substitute appearance in the Premier League against Crystal Palace. Carsley witnessed Rashford’s skillful play, including a dazzling moment where he dribbled past former Norwich forward Ricky van Wolfswinkel, although his resulting cross was intercepted.
Rashford’s first half was dynamic, highlighted by a 60-yard run that set up a chance for Zirkzee, and his aggressive incursions into the Twente defense drew admiration from the crowd. His departure late in the game received a warm ovation, contrasting sharply with the mixed reactions at the final whistle.
Eriksen’s evening concluded disappointingly as he was substituted after a solid performance, having made a significant contribution to the game before the equalizer. Once facing uncertainty about his future at Old Trafford, he has now started four consecutive matches since United’s heavy defeat to Liverpool before the last international break.
The midfielder’s goal, which was his third of the season—matching his best tally since the 2020-21 campaign at Inter Milan—highlighted his importance to the team. A precise pass from Fernandes found Diogo Dalot, who assisted Eriksen’s powerful shot into the far corner.
However, Eriksen’s promising night was marred by the equalizing goal. A careless turnover in possession allowed Bart van Rooij to make a remarkable 50-yard run that United failed to intercept. The scramble in defense resulted in Eriksen losing the ball at a crucial moment, leading to Lammers’ goal and leaving United with only a point to show for their efforts.