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AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Man Utd: Red Devils register ZERO shots on target in Europa League draw – Express, Express.co.uk

AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Man Utd: Red Devils register ZERO shots on target in Europa League draw – Express, Express.co.uk


AZ ALKMAAR 0-0 MAN UTD

Midtsjo, De Wit, Koopmeiners, Stengs, Idrissi, Boadu

Manchester United XI: De Gea, Dalot, Lindelof, Rojo, Williams, Matic, Fred, Gomes, Mata, James, Greenwood

After starting his reign with a club-record nine successive away wins in all competitions, Solskjaer’s subsequent wait for a victory on the road stretched to a 10 th match on ADO Den Haag’s plastic pitch.

March’s jaw-dropping Champions League last – 16 win at PSG remains the last time United triumphed away from Old Trafford – a stage and performance that was a far cry from Thursday’s tepid display against ***.

The tired, artificial pitch in The Hague did not help Solskjaer’s men in this Group L encounter, but their lack of attacking creativity and coherence was a bigger issue for the much-changed visitors.

Teenager Mason Greenwood’s blocked first-half effort was the best United could manage against AZ, who would have been ahead had their finishing matched their confidence.

The Eredivisie side continued to threaten in the second period but were just unable to find a way past David De Gea as Solskjaer’s team failed to build on their unconvincing opening win against Astana and provide a much-needed dollop of positivity.

AZ ALKMAAR 0-0 MAN UTD

FT:And that’s it. Another completely forgettable Europa League fixtures ends in a goalless draw. It’s a fairly decent result in the grand scheme of things for the visitors, who have four points from their opening two games.

92:Jesse Lingard has done his hamstring. He’s walked off the pitch and down the tunnel immediately. The Red Devils down to ten men for the final 60 seconds.

90:Three minutes stoppage time. It’ll feel like a lifetime.

89:Rojo gifts possession to Stengs and AZ have a corner with very little left on the clock. It’s played short and… it’s shocking. Manchester United clear easily.

88:Just three minutes to survive. I don’t mean either side – I mean us unfortunate people watching.

AZ Alkmaar vs Man Utd LIVE: Europa League score, goals, fixtures and updates

AZ Alkmaar vs Man Utd LIVE: Europa League score, goals, fixtures and updates(Image: GETTY)

85:Marcus Rashford lines up a free-kick, ten yards inside from the left touchline. He steps up… awful. Wide, high and just generally terrible.

Lingard arrows a shot towards goal but the ball flies just wide of the far post.

82: Penalty appeal!To the naked eye that looked stonewall. Wuytens cleans out Rashford inside the penalty area and the referee looks to his linesman before saying no.

Remember, no VAR in the Europa League…

80:I suspect we’ll be seeing more from 19 – year-old left-back Yukinari Sugawara in the future. The Japanese full-back is full of beans and nearly caused Manchester United a problem with his thunderous snapshot.

Scott McTominay is United’s third and final change. He’s on for Juan Mata.

AZ Alkmaar vs Man Utd LIVE: Europa League score, goals, fixtures and updates

AZ Alkmaar vs Man Utd LIVE: Europa League score, goals, fixtures and updates(Image: GETTY)

(****************************************************************************************************************: Woosh!Now that was traveling! The ball sits up nicely for Idrissi to crash wide on the half-volley. Jesse Lingard replaces Mason Greenwood for the closing stages. Perhaps he can show Gareth Southgate what he’s missing…

75 :I know Manchester United are a ‘team in transition’ and have been since Sir Alex Ferguson left, but that midfield pairing still cost £ 87 million . Should be doing much better.

73: Save!Midtsjo decides he’s going to thwack it from distance. Nobody’s closing him down so he obliges with a 20 – yarder that’s parried away by David de Gea.

70:Huff, puff and not much else.

68:Is fatigue kicking in for AZ? They’ve certainly dropped deeper and aren’t creating anything going forward. Big opportunity for the visitors to pounce.

65: Sub!Marcus Rashford is sent in to change things up. The England international replaces Daniel James with 25 minutes left on the clock . Hopefully that can give the visitors more of a presence in attack.

AZ Alkmaar vs Man Utd LIVE: Europa League score, goals, fixtures and updates

AZ Alkmaar vs Man Utd LIVE: Europa League score, goals, fixtures and updates(Image: GETTY)

63:Manchester United are lucky that AZ are dreadful from set-pieces. Eight corners tonight and they’ve barely delivered one good cross.

60:Is a draw a decent result for Manchester United? Perhaps it is considering they won their opener.

(*************************************************************************************************************************:Strange. The Red Devils have run out of ideas. The rare occasion they have the ball in AZ’s third – they just pass it sideways. No movement, just players hoping that something will happen.

55:These United players certainly haven’t taken Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s instructions on board. Unless they were: Go out there and be second to every ball.

AZ look the more likely to break the deadlock and have a rather decent penalty appeal turned down. The drilled cross cannons off two defenders before hitting Williams’ arm. No dice.

AZ Alkmaar vs Man Utd LIVE: Europa League score, goals, fixtures and updates

AZ Alkmaar vs Man Utd LIVE: Europa League score, goals, fixtures and updates(Image: GETTY)

52 :Home supporters are right up for this. It’s night and day from the first-half. Quite literally now the sun has set and the floodlights are on.

(*****************************************************************************************************************************:AZ want a penalty when the full back stoops to head a cross but accidentally connects with his arm. Referee not having it – would have been super harsh.

47:Not sure Ole Gunnar Solskjaer can use the age excuse tonight. United’s average age is just over 24 and AZ’s is just over 23. Time to shine, lads.

“Stop messing around in the middle, go quick and wide, ”was the advice from Michael Owen at the break.

AZ ALKMAAR 0-0 MAN UTD

45:Ok, enough chitter-chatter. We’re back underway in Holland. It’s also goalless over in Turkey between Besiktas and Wolves. No changes at the break.

AZ Alkmaar vs Man Utd LIVE: Europa League score, goals, fixtures and updates

AZ Alkmaar vs Man Utd LIVE: Europa League score, goals, fixtures and updatesImage: GETTY)

AZ ALKMAAR 0-0 MAN UTD

HT:And that’s the break. Goalless

44:Sugawara’s on the ball .. he’s still on the ball… he’s shot straight into the face of his colleague. Good run from the full back, shame about the finish.

41:Almost. Nearly. Not quite. That’s been the story of this opening half for both sides, who have got into a few decent positions but not been able to capitalize. In fairness, this pitch isn’t helping. Atrocious.

(***********************************************************************************************************************************:Better. Much better. Manchester United’s passing is finally on point as Juan Mata sweeps the ball wide to Diogo Dalot. The right-back drives past his marker before fizzing a cross into the middle that Angel Gomes controls. He tries to tip-toe his way into a shooting position but he’s shut down.

AZ Alkmaar vs Man Utd LIVE: Europa League score, goals, fixtures and updates

AZ Alkmaar vs Man Utd LIVE: Europa League score, goals, fixtures and updates(Image: GETTY)

35:Half the outfield players are 21 years old or younger tonight. It shows.

33: Sitter!Myron Boadu, 18, should break the deadlock. He’s found with a cross ten-yards from goal but takes his eyes off the ball and ends up using his neck to divert it on target. Easy save for DDG.

30: What?!AZ Alkmaar’s players are furious because they think the ball has gone over the byline, but Daniel James looks to have kept it in play. He fires across goal where Mason Greenwood’s snapshot is blocked by Ron Vlaar.

27:It’s so painfully slow in the United engine room. Nemanja Matic and Fred simply aren’t moving the ball quickly enough. Everything is labored and lethargic. Zero creativity either.

AZ Alkmaar vs Man Utd LIVE: Europa League score, goals, fixtures and updates

AZ Alkmaar vs Man Utd LIVE: Europa League score, goals, fixtures and updatesImage: GETTY)

24:Someone’s turned on the atmosphere switch. The ground is filling up and I can only assume it’s because AZ fans have finished work late and had to drive to the stadium. Very loud now as their side boss proceedings.

(********************************************************************************************************************************************:When did big Ron Vlaar become the most cultured center-back in world football? He’s pinging balls left and right for fun this evening. He’s also being marked by Mason Greenwood at set-pieces and might fancy his chances to get on the scoresheet.

(***********************************************************************************************************************************************:That quick start from Manchester United feels a long time ago. They’ve not attacked or had any real possession since with Daniel James completely isolated in the striker role. Can’t imagine it’ll be long before he moves back to the wing.

AZ Alkmaar vs Man Utd LIVE: Europa League score, goals, fixtures and updates

AZ Alkmaar vs Man Utd LIVE: Europa League score, goals, fixtures and updates(Image: GETTY)

AZ Alkmaar vs Man Utd LIVE: Europa League score, goals, fixtures and updates**************

AZ Alkmaar vs Man Utd LIVE: Europa League score, goals, fixtures and updates (Image: GETTY)

15:Another corner to Alkmaar as the hosts warm to the task. Stengs’ terrible delivery fails to beat the first man but the ball is recycled and Ron Vlaar’s telegraphed pass wins another corner.

Let’s see if Stengs can do better with this one… SAVE! It’s cleared to Idrissi and the winger forces a terrific stop from David de Gea. Nobody closing him down at all.

14:Nice spell of possession from Alkmaar. Idrissi looks a threat down this left channel and whips a devilish cross into the penalty area that Lindelof hooks behind.

Here comes the corner… GOAL! Oh, wait, it’s been disallowed for offside as Boadu stoops to head past David de Gea.

11:No real pressure from the hosts. In fact, I’m not sure what their approach is tonight. Manchester United always have time and options to pick out.

9:Nothing much to report in the opening stages. The visitors are the more assertive and have kept possession nicely with AZ Alkmaar leaving nearly everyone behind the ball. Smash N ‘Grab approach.

AZ Alkmaar vs Man Utd LIVE: Europa League score, goals, fixtures and updates

AZ Alkmaar vs Man Utd LIVE: Europa League score, goals, fixtures and updates(Image: GETTY)

6:Must admit, the surface looks terrible. The plastic has actually turned blue around the center-circle and the bounce is ridiculously high. Brandon Williams learns that pretty quickly when trying to switch play.

4:Daniel James is playing up front with Mason Greenwood on the right. Bit of a tactical switch from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer there. Presumably for pace reasons.

3:

Louis van Gaal is in attendance this evening. It’s true that absence makes the heart grow fonder – I really miss that fella for some inexplicable reason.

Anyway, Alkmaar’s captain Koopmeiners requested to swap ends during the coin toss. Couldn’t tell you why – this place isn’t even full.

AZ ALKMAAR 0-0 MAN UTD

1:And we’re underway folks! Incidentally, Partizan Belgrade just beat Astana 2-1 away in the other match in Group L. The Red Devils have a double-header against them next.

AZ Alkmaar vs Man Utd LIVE: Europa League score, goals, fixtures and updates

AZ Alkmaar vs Man Utd LIVE: Europa League score, goals, fixtures and updates(Image: GETTY)

I feel sorry for them

17: 53:Just wanted to fit this in before we get started. Owen Hargreaves has been discussing Manchester United’s situation and dropped some real truth bombs.

“I feel sorry for some of these young kids, they have to carry the burden for one of the biggest brands in the world at 18 – years-old! ”he told BT Sport.” These guys aren’t ready to carry the load, it’s not fair on them. “

‘I’ve seen better ‘

17: 50:Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer discussing the plastic pitch and debutant Brandon Williams.

“I’ve seen better, to be diplomatic, “he told BT Sp ort. “I’ve seen many in Norway, a couple of generations further on.

” We’ll try to make the most of it. The young lads are used to playing on astroturf. Brandon Williams’ start is well deserved, he’s been fantastic all season for the reserves. He’s not looked out of place. “

AZ Alkmaar vs Man Utd LIVE: Europa League score, goals, fixtures and updates

AZ Alkmaar vs Man Utd LIVE: Europa League score, goals, fixtures and updates(Image: GETTY)

‘We expect a lot’

17: 45:Manchester United Ole Gunnar Solskjaer:“The young boys are getting there, but we expect a lot from our experienced players as well. You want to win games as quick as you can. We’re going to give everything we have to get the three points, because this is a tournament, we want to go far in. “

Oh stat

17: 40:Fair play to The Athletic, who have provided a fantastic statistic. Below is the number of days since each Premier League club has scored from a corner or indirect free-kick.

It’s been 218 days and counting for Manchester United .

AZ Alkmaar vs Man Utd LIVE: Europa League score, goals, fixtures and updates

AZ Alkmaar vs Man Utd LIVE: Europa League score, goals, fixtures and updates(Image: THE ATHLETIC)

Jesse’s out

(************************************************************************************************************************************************: 35:England dropped Dele Alli and Jesse Lingar d but called up Chelsea youngsters Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori in a 25 -man squad on Thursday for away Euro 2020 qualifiers against the Czech Republic and Bulgaria.

Striker Abraham turned 22 on Wednesday, celebrating in style with the opener in his club’s 2-1 Champions League victory at Lille, and is the leading English goalscorer in the Premier League.

Despite making two senior appearances for England in friendlies two years ago, he is also eligible for Nigeria and had said he was undecided about his international future.

Lingard and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, as well as Alex Oxlade-Chamber lain of Liverpool, dropped out of the squad while the likes of Dele Alli and Kyle Walker failed to earn a recall.

AZ Alkmaar vs Man Utd LIVE: Europa League score, goals, fixtures and updates

AZ Alkmaar vs Man Utd LIVE: Europa League score, goals, fixtures and updates(Image: GETTY)

Twitter round-up

David: Dalot, Williams, Greenwood, Gomes and a start for Fred. That is a team I actually might like watching with their energy. Hopefully a few big performances from them tonight make a claim for a starting spot!

Darren: 3-1 to Manchester United tonight! Can see us putting in a well overdue good performance tonight.

Phillip: I personally think Callum Wilson would be a good signing in January.

Not actually what we were talking about Phillip. But I like your thinking with 90 days until the transfer window opens.

AZ Alkmaar vs Man Utd LIVE: Europa League score, goals, fixtures and updates

AZ Alkmaar vs Man Utd LIVE: Europa League score, goals, fixtures and updates(Image: GETTY)

About AZ…

(************************************************************************************************************************************************: 25:Why don’t we use this time to educate ourselves about tonight’s hosts. No? Well we’re doing it anyway because it’s already prepared.

Arne Slot took on his first senior management role in July when promoted from assistant at AZ following John van den Brom’s departure to Utrecht.

AZ have picked up where they left off last season after finishing fourth in the Eredivisie under Van den Brom. They are currently third in the table, one point behind leaders Ajax after winning six and losing one of their first eight league games.

Slot’s side head into their clash with United on the back of three straight league wins and drew their opening Group L fixture 2-2 against Partizan in Belgrade despite the first-half dismissal of Norway defender Jonas Svensson.

AZ Alkmaar vs Man Utd LIVE: Europa League score, goals, fixtures and updates

AZ Alkmaar vs Man Utd LIVE: Europa League score, goals, fixtures and updates(Image: GETTY)

Ouch

17: 15:Since beating Paris Saint-Germain 3-1 back in March, Manchester United have failed to win any other their nine away matches across all competitions (D3 L6) – they last went on a longer winless run on the road between February and September 1989 (run of

AZ Alkmaar side

17: 10:Defender Ron Vlaar and midfielder Jordy Clasie should be familiar to Manchester United supporters.

AZ Alkmaar XI: Bizot, Sugawara, Vlaar, Wuytens, Wijndal, Midtsjo, De Wit, Koopmeiners, Stengs, Idrissi, Boadu.

Subs: De Boer, Hatzidiakos, Ouwejan, Druijf, Aboukhlal, Clasic, Reijnders.

AZ Alkmaar vs Man Utd LIVE: Europa League score, goals, fixtures and updates

AZ Alkmaar vs Man Utd LIVE: Europa League score, goals, fixtures and updates(Image: GETTY)

Elsewhere…

17: 05:Two other Premier League sides in action this evening with Wolves traveling to Besiktas and Arsenal welcoming Standard Liege to the Emirates Stadium.

I mention that because the Standard Liege supporters are causing mayhem in London!

I’ve posted a video of hundreds of fans arriving at Kings Cross earlier today with smoke bombs, flares and bangers released in the station. I believe police have been forced to evacuate the station in order to check eveything is safe.

Team news – Manchester United

16: 55:How many changes from the draw with Arsenal at Old Trafford? Eight. Ole’s made eight changes.

As previously mentioned, David de Gea, Victor Lindelof and Daniel James are the only survivors from Monday evening.

Mason Greenwood leads the line with James, Angel Gomes and Juan Mata providing attacking support.

The defender looks unfamiliar with Marcos Rojo partnering Victor Lindelof in central defense. Diogo Dalot is on the right with 19 -year-old academy left-back Brandon Williams making his first-team debut.

AZ Alkmaar vs Man Utd LIVE: Europa League score, goals, fixtures and updates

AZ Alkmaar vs Man Utd LIVE: Europa League score , goals, fixtures and updates(Image: GETTY)

The starting XI

16: 50:Well it looks like Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is taking this quite seriously tonigh t. Rightly so. David *** Gea, Victor Lindelof and Daniel James all involved.

Manchester United XI: De Gea, Dalot, Lindelof, Rojo, Williams, Matic, Fred, Gomes, Mata,

Subs: Romero, Maguire, Tuanzebe, McTominay, Lingard, Chong, Rashford.

Twitter round-up

Chris: Finish work at 5pm. Home by half 5. Stick some dinner on, put on BT sport 2 or 3 for the united game. 5. 55 pm kick off. Game that’s being played on a plastic pitch. It’s what Thursday evenings are all about.

Brad: United traveling to statistically best defense in Europe this season, playing on a plastic pitch with a bunch of kids and not won away since ****** Andy: Imagine beingAZ Alkmaar vs Man Utd LIVE: Europa League score, goals, fixtures and updatesth in the league and having to play away on a Thursday night on a plastic pitch.

Some tweets have been edited to remove a simply phenomenal amount of swearing. It’s almost impressive. Almost.

AZ Alkmaar vs Man Utd LIVE: Europa League score, goals, fixtures and updates

AZ Alkmaar vs Man Utd LIVE: Europa League score, goals, fixtures and updates(Image: GETTY)

The plastic pitch

16: 40:What a palaver this has proved.

Old Gunnar Solskjaer has described the artificial surface hosting their Europa League tie as the worst he has seen.

Alkmaar have been forced to play 70 miles away at the Kyocera Stadium in The Hague after part of the roof collapsed in their own AFAS Stadium last month.

“I’m surprised they have chosen to play on this pitch when I have looked at it,” Solskjaer said. “I’m used to astro from back home and it’s not the best I’ve seen. So it’s one of the worst astro turf pitches I have seen for a long while.”

AZ Alkmaar vs Man Utd LIVE: Europa League score, goals, fixtures and updates(Image: GETTY

Afternoon

16: 30:Hello and welcome to ourLIVEcoverage of AZ Alkmaar vs Manchester United.

Thank goodness we’ve got rid of that Champions League nonsense, rig Nine-goal thrillers, three-goal comebacks and complete meltdown in north London.

Who needs it !? I think we can all agree the Europa League has a far better anthem and the logo has more charm.

Manchester United got their campaign underway with an extremely underwhelming 1-0 victory over Astana a few weeks ago. A match I’ll always remember for all the wrong reasons.

But tonight’s opponents will prove a very stern test. I’ll tell you why after I’ve eaten my £ 3 meal deal. Coronation chicken, plain crisps and an orange juice if you’re interested…

AZ Alkmaar vs Man Utd LIVE: Europa League score, goals, fixtures and updates

AZ Alkmaar vs Man Utd LIVE: Europa League score, goals, fixtures and updates(Image: GETTY)

AZ ALKMAAR vs MAN UTD – TEAM NEWS

Paul Pogba and Aaron Wan-Bissaka were among a number of high-profile absentees for Manchester United’s Europa League trip to AZ Alkmaar.

Pogba (foot) has not traveled to play on the plastic pitch in The Hague following specialist advice, while Wan-Bissaka (illness) misses out just as he did against Arsenal on Monday.

Anthony Martial, Luke Shaw, Ashley Young and Phil Jones were also omitted from the squad for th e Group L match, but Angel Gomes and Diogo Dalot were available for the trip to Holland.

Brandon Williams was also named in the traveling squad.

Provisional squad: De Gea, Romero, Grant, Dalot, Lindelof, Maguire, Tuanzebe, Rojo, Williams, McTominay, Matic, Fred, Garner, Pereira, Mata, Lingard, Gomes, James, Chong , Rashford, Greenwood.

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