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Champions League round of 16 – Atletico Madrid 1-1 Manchester United: substitute Anthony Elanga rescues late draw for Red Devils

Ralf Rangnick’s trust in Anthony Elanga was rewarded as the Swedish attacker scored late to equalize for Manchester United against Atletico Madrid.

Joao Felix had opened the scoring for Atleti inside the first seven minutes, and United had struggled to recover and get back into the match.

However, Elanga was brought on in the 75th minute to replace Marcus Rashford with the Red Devils a goal down, but was able to rescue a 1-1 draw to take into the second leg of the round of 16 tie.

“I’ve dreamt of moments like this,” Elanga told BT Sport after the game.

“Scoring in the Champions League on a big occasion like this, against a top team like Atletico Madrid, it’s a dream come true.”

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Atleti took the lead when Renan Lodi’s left-footed cross was met by Felix, whose headed effort smacked into the post and into the net, sending the Wanda Metropolitano crowd into raptures.

The home side were inches from doubling their lead just before half-time when Šime Vrsaljko’s header cannoned off Victor Lindelof and into the crossbar.

United eventually began to see more of the ball in the second half, but were so far drawing blanks until Elanga’s introduction.

The 19-year-old was left with just the keeper to beat when he was slid through by Bruno Fernandes and escaped Reinildo Mandava’s challenge.

With Jan Oblak rushing out to meet him, Elanga coolly slotted the ball to the goalkeepers’ right and into the corner of the net.

Atleti, shocked by the sudden equaliser, pushed to restore their lead, and again were just inches from retaking it when Antoine Griezmann’s curled shot bounced off David De Gea’s crossbar and away to safety.

United were able to hold on though, and will look to secure passage to the quarter-finals when they face off again with Atleti at Old Trafford on March 15.

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