MANCHESTER UNITED YAFUNGWA 3-2 NA ATHLETIC BILBAO

Manchester United 2 Athletic Bilbao 3: Reds face the boot as sleepy Rafael nods off

By Chris Wheeler
Wake up was Sir Alex Ferguson's pre-match message to Manchester United, but his players clearly weren't listening.
Certainly not young Rafael Da Silva who may live to regret the moment he inexplicably switched off for the goal that could cost Ferguson's side a place in the quarter-finals of the Europa League.
So much for rubbing our hands in anticipation of an all-Manchester final in Bucharest in May.

Leveller: Llorente brought the visitors on terms just before half-time

MATCH FACTS

Man United: De Gea, Rafael Da Silva, Smalling (Carrick 55), Evans, Evra, Park (Anderson 61), Jones, Giggs (Nani 75), Young, Rooney, Hernandez.
Subs not used: Amos, Ferdinand, Welbeck, Fabio Da Silva.
Goals: Rooney 22, 90 pen.
Athletic Bilbao: Iraizoz, Iraola, Javi Martinez, San Jose, Aurtenetxe, Iturraspe,De Marcos, Ander Herrera (Inigo Perez 84), Susaeta, Llorente (Toquero 81), Muniain.
Subs not used: Raul, David Lopez, Koikili, Ekiza, Ibai.
Booked: San Jose.
Goals: Llorente 44,De Marcos 72,Muniain 90.
Attendance: 62,000
Referee: Florian Meyer (Germany).

Quite what the young Brazilian was thinking when he watched the ball roll away from David de Gea and towards Iker Muniain in the 89th minute, only he will know but it summed up another lamentable defensive performance from the Barclays Premier League champions.
Wayne Rooney's injury-time penalty and a string of superb saves from United's own Spaniard De Gea have given United a lifeline they barely deserve when Ferguson's side go to Basque country next week.
But this was a depressingly familiar storyline for United in Europe this season. Leading at home once again, just as they were against Basle and Ajax two weeks ago, it all went downhill as an impressive Bilbao side hit back in stunning fashion.
A second successive European defeat at home again left Ferguson searching for an explanation. He took the blame after the Ajax loss, and questions must be asked after he recalled Rafael in another unfamiliar back four.

Wayne's world: Rooney bagged the opener for United (below) after 22 minutes and celebrates (above)

But surely his players have to hold their hands up this time. Bilbao were as brilliant as United were bad, and as vibrant as their 6,000 army of fans, even though it must be said that questions remain over two of their three goals.
Indeed, by the time United broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute it was the Spanish side who were looking most likely to open the scoring, with Fernando Llorente making a real nuisance of himself.
But they were caught unawares when Rooney was fouled just over the halfway line and took a quick free-kick to Ryan Giggs. The United veteran surged forward and exchanged a series of passes with Javier Hernandez, who checked back inside two defenders and tried his luck with a low left-foot shot.

Heads up: Llorente nodded the Spaniards' first goal of the evening - much to the delight of the travelling fans (below)

Goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz got down to push it away but only as far as Rooney, who turned the ball into the empty net from close range. The England striker will score more difficult goals this season but credit to him for making up ground after starting the move.
Bilbao pressed forward undeterred and were certainly deserving of Llorente's equaliser in the 44th minute. Muniain was allowed to break forward from deep and feed the ball into 6ft 5in Spain striker Llorente, who knocked it on to Andoni Iraola.
He played it out to Markel Susaeta, whose first-time cross picked out Llorente's charging run as he burst between Rafael and Chris Smalling to plant a powerful header past De Gea


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