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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (Getty Images)
Simon Kjaer scored a draw on the last gasp to give AC Milan a dramatic 1-1 draw in United manchester after Amad Diallo scored his first goal for the hosts in the European League the last 16 first leg matches on Thursday.
Kjaer scored with a bullet header in the closing seconds of injury time at Old Trafford.
The belated intervention of the Milan defender ruined a memorable moment for the Ivorian teenager Diallo.
In just his third appearance for United, Diallo caught a glimpse of potential that convinced the Premier League club to pay 18 million ($ 25 million) to sign him from Italian Atalanta in January.
Just five minutes after entering as a substitute at half-time, the 18-year-old put United ahead with a magnificent header.
Legends such as Paolo Maldini, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaká, Wayne Rooney and Ronaldinho have appeared in previous meetings between United and Milan.
While it is too early to place Diallo in that company, United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hopes that scoring with his first effort in goal bodes well for the future of the much-hyped youngster with the club.
At 18 years and 243 days, Diallo is the fourth youngest player to score for United in a major European competition, after Mason Greenwood, Marcus Rashford and George Best.
Diallo, who has yet to start at United, made his debut as a substitute in the first leg of the Europa League round of 32 against Real Sociedad.
This was his second home appearance and scoring at Old Trafford’s famous Stretford End was even sweeter for the precocious star.
While Diallo’s headline-grabbing act was significant, it wasn’t enough to help United build on the momentum of their 2-0 victory over Premier League leaders Manchester City on Sunday.
With United 14 points behind City, the Europa League and FA Cup represent their best hopes of winning the first trophy of Solskjaer’s reign.
The return leg in Italy next Thursday will not be easy for United, given evidence of a calm and determined performance from the injury-stricken Milan crop of promising youngsters.
United and Milan, each crowned 10-time European champions, were feared for their swashbuckling game and financial strength, but both clubs have lost their luster in recent years.
In a sign of the standards falling at Old Trafford and San Siro, the first meeting between two of the world’s most historic teams since 2010 was their first outside of the knockout stages of the Champions League.
Milan scored the shots early on and Rafael Leao had the ball in the net when he ran clear to shoot home, only to see his effort ruled offside.
Stefano Pioli’s team was denied the opener in the 11th minute after Franck Kessie pounced on a long shot and edged Dean Henderson from inside the area.
Kessie’s celebrations were premature as a VAR review showed the ball had bounced off the midfielder’s arm prior to its release.
Harry Maguire made an incredible mistake when the United defender, no more than a yard away, somehow fired into the post after Bruno Fernandes hit Alex Telles’ corner.
United had moved the ball too slowly and for little purpose in the first half, so Solskjaer replaced Anthony Martial with Diallo at half-time.
After a brief delay while having a bracelet stuck to the touchline, Diallo’s performance turned out to be an inspired move as he broke the deadlock in the 50th minute.
Fernandes threw a delicious long pass to Diallo, who made an incisive run behind the Milan defense and launched a clever header back at Gianluigi Donnarumma.
But United couldn’t take advantage of that advantage and Milan’s clever play was rewarded with just seconds left when Kjaer drove his header on Henderson from a corner.
