Football
Atletico Madrid 1-1 Manchester United: Late goal spares Red Devils' blushes
(Getty Images)On Wednesday, Atletico Madrid and Manchester United battled to a 1-1 draw in their 2021-22 UEFA Champions League round of 16 first-leg match, with an early Joao Felix goal nullified by Anthony Elanga's late strike.
Atletico started the match aggressively and was rewarded in kind when Felix met Renan Lodi's cross and nodded it home in the seventh minute. The Rojiblancos conceded possession to United throughout the first half but were easily the more dangerous of the two sides, with Šime Vrsaljko denied by the crossbar moments before halftime.
The English giant grew into the game in the second half but still lacked much in the way of attacking thrust for much of the final 45 minutes. However, United's first shot on target resulted in the equalizer as 19-year-old Elanga's 80th-minute counterattack goal saved the Red Devils from leaving Madrid with a loss.
Despite giving up the leveler, Atletico came within inches of taking back the lead in the dying minutes as Antoine Griezmann struck the woodwork with a curling shot that had beaten United goalkeeper David De Gea.
The home side was forced to settle for the draw, with the teams reconvening in Manchester next month for the second leg.
