Anthony Elanga's goal was Manchester United's 500th in the European Cup/Champions League,Anthony Elanga's late equaliser boosted Manchester United's hopes of reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League as they fought back to draw against Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano.
The 19-year-old had been on the pitch less than six minutes after replacing Marcus Rashford, when he raced onto Bruno Fernandes' perfectly-weighted pass to roll the ball past home goalkeeper Jan Oblak.
Until that point it had looked as though Diego Simeone's Spanish champions were going to take a narrow advantage to Old Trafford after delivering a masterclass in controlling the game without dominating possession.
Joao Felix's early header from Renan Lodi's inviting cross gave the hosts a dream start with United looking ragged on their right, where interim boss Ralf Rangnick's gamble of playing Victor Lindelof at full-back failed badly.
The Swedish central defender looked uncomfortable throughout and was booked for a tug on Felix before his miserable evening was ended prematurely by his withdrawal midway through the second half.
By then Atletico could and perhaps should have been two goals ahead with Sime Vrsaljko heading the ball off Lindelof and onto the United bar in the closing moments of the first half after some more dismal defending.
While Rangnick's side enjoyed plenty of the ball, they were slow and indecisive in possession and barely looked capable of carving open their well-drilled opponents who repeatedly picked off every sloppy United pass in midfield.
Atletico were also unlucky to not score late on themselves when Antoine Griezmann rattled the visitors crossbar.
However, Elanga, who missed the crucial penalty when Rangnick's side lost in the FA Cup to Middlesbrough earlier this month, followed up his goal at Leeds on Sunday with another important intervention to change the complexion of the tie before the second leg in Manchester in three weeks time.
United stumble into second leg all square
For long periods of this encounter United served up the sort of fare that has typified Rangnick's three-month reign as boss.
Disjointed in possession, misplaced and overhit passes were produced with alarming frequency as Fred, Paul Pogba and Fernandes failed to impose themselves on the game and the athleticism of Scott McTominay was sorely missed in midfield.
There were also several elementary mistakes at the back, such as Fred's charge out towards the ball and the lack of communication as Felix stole past Harry Maguire to head the opening goal.
Lindelof's unfamiliarity with his adopted position hardly helped and it was notable that United's main improvement came after the likes of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Alex Telles and Elanga were introduced.
Elanga in particular provided the pace to run in behind - an option that had barely been utilised with the visitors until then.
And it reaped immediate dividends, with the Sweden under-21 international registering United's first shot on target with his goal to become the club's youngest goalscorer in the knockout stages of the Champions League.
Line-ups
Atl Madrid
Formation 3-5-2
13Oblak
15Savic2Giménez23Mandava
24Vrsaljko14Llorente4Kondogbia16Herrera12Lodi dos Santos
10Correa7Sequeira
13Oblak15Savic2GiménezBooked at 78mins23MandavaBooked at 63mins24Vrsaljko14LlorenteBooked at 77mins4Kondogbia16HerreraBooked at 45mins12Lodi dos SantosSubstituted forLemarat 76'minutes10Correa7SequeiraSubstituted forGriezmannat 76'minutesSubstitutes
1Lecomte5de Paul8Griezmann9Suárez11Lemar18Felipe22Hermoso26Serrano31GómezMan Utd
Formation 4-2-3-1
1de Gea
2Lindelöf19Varane5Maguire23Shaw
17Fred6Pogba
10Rashford18Bruno Fernandes25Sancho
7Cristiano Ronaldo
1de Gea2LindelöfBooked at 60minsSubstituted forWan-Bissakaat 66'minutes19Varane5Maguire23ShawBooked at 50minsSubstituted forTellesat 67'minutesBooked at 83mins17FredBooked at 74mins6PogbaSubstituted forMaticat 66'minutes10RashfordBooked at 65minsSubstituted forElangaat 75'minutes18Bruno Fernandes25SanchoSubstituted forLingardat 82'minutes7Cristiano RonaldoSubstitutes
3Bailly4Jones8Mata14Lingard20Dalot22Heaton26Henderson27Telles29Wan-Bissaka31Matic36Elanga46MejbriReferee:Ovidiu HateganAttendance:63,273Live Text
Match ends, Atletico Madrid 1, Manchester United 1.
Second Half ends, Atletico Madrid 1, Manchester United 1.
Attempt saved. Jesse Lingard (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Fred.
Foul by Anthony Elanga (Manchester United).
Geoffrey Kondogbia (Atletico Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Marcos Llorente.
Foul by Nemanja Matic (Manchester United).
Ángel Correa (Atletico Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Sime Vrsaljko (Atletico Madrid).
Corner, Atletico Madrid. Conceded by Bruno Fernandes.
Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid) hits the bar with a left footed shot from the right side of the box. Assisted by Marcos Llorente following a corner.
Corner, Atletico Madrid. Conceded by Raphaël Varane.
Attempt missed. José Giménez (Atletico Madrid) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Stefan Savic with a headed pass following a set piece situation.
Hand ball by Nemanja Matic (Manchester United).
Alex Telles (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Alex Telles (Manchester United).
Marcos Llorente (Atletico Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Manchester United. Jesse Lingard replaces Jadon Sancho.
Goal! Atletico Madrid 1, Manchester United 1. Anthony Elanga (Manchester United) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Bruno Fernandes.
