ERIK TEN HAG was left frustrated as Manchester United failed to kill off a game again.

It has become a recurring theme under the boss.

 

Christian Eriksen was the Jekyll and Hyde double act for Man Utd against FC Twente

 

 

Eriksen rifled home the opener near the end of the first half

 

Sam Lammers slotted home a second-half equaliser

Before the game he had urged his players to find that lethal touch in the box to finish teams off.

But despite having 19 efforts at goal only five were on target and one of them was from a Twente player

They had failed to take chances in the goalless draw at Crystal Palace at the weekend too.

New coach Ruud van Nistelrooy is still to work his magic on the Carrington training pitches.

On top from a Christian Eriksen strike on 35 minutes, it seemed they were going to have the perfect start against Ten Hag’s former club in this Europa League opener.

He had said before the game “it is not nice to have to hurt something you love” as he sensed victory against the team he played for in three spells and still supports.

But they were the one’s breaking his heart with a second-half equaliser to share the points through Sam Lammers.

They very nearly had something else to celebrate early in the game when Diogo Dalot lost out to Bart van Rooij, who crossed into the six yard box.

Lammers got the slightest of touches to deflect wide and beyond Andre Onana but the ball ran just wide of the far post.

Marcus Rashford was back in the team after being left out the starting line up for the game at Selhurst Park.

It was a surprise move given that he had scored three goals in two games.

Rashford showed that he felt he had a point to prove not just to Ten Hag but interim England boss Lee Carsley, who was in the stands.

His form last season saw him lose out on a place in Gareth Southgate’s Euros squad, but Carsley has already proved he is prepared to give players another chance.

The forward looked lively from the start, tearing down the left flank as Amad Diallo did likewise down the right.

Marcus Rashford looked bright throughout

While Joshua Zirkzee struggled to have a huge influence on the game

He was full of tricks, with one nutmeg drawing huge cheers.

In the 26th minute, there was very nearly a bizarre own goal in United’s favour.

When Lisandro Martinez thumped a header across goal towards Zirkzee, Mees Hilgers intervened with a flick.

But it forced his goalkeeper Lars Unnerstall into an incredible save to prevent the ball nestling in his top corner.

The Red Devils then took the lead through a fabulous strike from Eriksen.

Bruno Fernandes played the ball into the box for Diogo Dalot and, when he was challenged, it broke loose.

Eriksen was first on the scene with a first-time drive that flew into the far top corner.

United were in the ascendancy but Ten Hag will have wanted them to press that advantage home.

Diallo tried to do just that as he turned on the afterburners and tore into the box to win a corner soon after the break.

Lammers thundered an effort past Andre Onana

There were jubilant celebrations from the Dutch side

Eriksen curled the ball over, and Harry Maguire met it with his head, preventing it from going through and returning the ball to the United center-back, whose shot found its way directly into the goal.

Having a great game, Rashford ran half the pitch after disposing of Youri Regeer and found Eriksen, who then supplied Noussair Mazraoui.

But the move backfired as the new full-back for United played a chipped cross that went unnoticed.

Too many moves broke down.

Lisandro Martinez reminded everybody why he was nicknamed ‘The Butcher of Amsterdam’ in his time at Ajax when he took out Sam Steijn 30 yards from United’s goal.

It earned him a booking and the visitors a free kick.

Steijn picked himself up to take it and his low shot around the wall almost crept into the far corner, but was kept out by Onana’s finger tips.

However, United failed to heed the warning and Twente drew level in the 67th minute.

Bart Van Rooij charged through the United ranks before an interception from Manuel Ugarte.

The ball broke to Eriksen, who thought he had more time than he did.

Harry Maguire megged and Eriksen dispossessed en route to Twente’s equaliser

The Dane then saw his pocket picked by Lammers, who charged into the box and fired home at Onana’s near post.

In injury time, a Maguire header was saved brilliantly on the line by Unnerstall

Back to the drawing board, again.

Kobbie Mainoo had a late penalty appeal waved away

Harry Maguire forced a late scare with an injury time header