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| Shola Shoretire's Friday began with registering and ended with scoring at Manchester United's stadium. (Photo from manchestereveningnews) |
[Asia News Communication = Reporter Reakkana] Shola Shoretire became the youngest player to appear for Manchester United in a European game as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side eased into the last-16 of the Europa League with a goalless draw against Real Sociedad.
BBC reported that at 17 years and 23 days, Newcastle-born Shoretire beat the record of Norman Whiteside by 108 days on a night when January signing Amad Diallo also made his first appearance at Old Trafford. They’re notable milestones on an evening when Bruno Fernandes went closest for the hosts in the opening period as he smashed a lay-off from Fred onto the crossbar. However, the best chance turned into a miserable failure for visitors' skipper Mikel Oyarzabal. Referee Lawrence Visser was advised to watch the incident on a pitchside monitor and judged that Victor Lindelof had committed a foul before the ball reached his fellow center-back.
It’s all rather mundane, with the hosts' four-goal cushion from last week's game in Turin ensuring their place in Friday's draw - when Steven Gerrard and Jose Mourinho are potential opponents for Solskjaer - was never in doubt. Their victory means there will be four British sides in the Europa League last 16, with Tottenham, Arsenal, and Rangers all advancing, although Leicester was eliminated by Slavia Prague.
