Manchester United earn draw on threadbare pitch at Rostov

A beautifully crafted first-half goal, goal, set-up by Zlatan Ibrahimovic and finished by Henrikh Mkhitaryan, put Manchester United in a strong position to reach the last eight of the Europa League. Though Aleksandr Bukharov equalised for Rostov after the break, Jose Mourinho was happy to leave Russia with a draw, an away goal, and no injuries.

Very little resembling football was achieved in the first half, as both sides came to terms with a pitch closely resembling a ploughed field on the moon. Mourinho had chosen to field a 3-5-2 formation, matching up with United's hosts, and on 35 minutes, it bore fruit: Phil Jones switched the play, Marouane Fellaini chested down superbly, found Zlatan Ibrahimovicand his superb footwork created a tap-in for Mkhitaryan.

Rostov were much better after the break, and scored a lovely goal of their own on 53 minutes. The excellent Timofei Kalachev was allowed to clip a pass over the top, Bukharov lost Phil Jones, and adroit chest control allowed him to volley home.

Through the remainder of the game, Rostov were the better side, though created very little, and United might've won it at the death when Fellaini couldn't quite direct his header and Anthony Martial couldn't quite slide in the loose ball. They must now schlep home and prepare for Monday's FA Cup quarter-final with Chelsea, before the teams reconvene at Old Trafford a week tonight.

Should elite football be played on such a bad surface? As was the case during the Africa Cup of Nations, players were asked to play on a pitch that would be considered bad in Sunday League football. On the one hand, it was not conducive to entertainment; on the other, it was different to the norm and a very definite home advantage.

Marcos Rojo (Manchester United): Playing in a new formation, on the left of a back-three, his pace and timing saved United on several occasions. He remains a horrendous left-back, but has proved himself a very useful centre-back on numerous occasions this season.

Rostov: Medvedev 7, Kalachev 8, Mevlja 6, Navas 6, Granat 6, Gatcano 6, Erokhin 5, Noboa 6, Kudryashov 6, Poloz 7, Bukharov 6. Subs: Terentyev 6, Sardar 6.

Manchester United: Romero 7, Jones 5, Smalling 6, Rojo 8, Young 6, Herrera 7, Pogba 5, Fellani 6, Blind 6, Mkhitaryan 7, Ibrahimovic 6. Subs: Martial 6, Valencia 6, Carrick 6.

2’ - Chance: Young nashes down the right and clips back across for Mkhitaryan, who tees up Pogba. But he contrives to miss his kick, and when the ball bobbles clear, Herrera can't get a decent connection.

26’ - Penalty shout: United shove the free-kick down the left and Blind crosses low - Mevlja deflects it behind for a corner. Blind then over-hits it far beyond the back post, but in any case the ref has penalised Smalling for being pulled back and hurled to the ground by Kudryashov. That ought to have been a penalty.

36’ - GOAL! Rostov 0-1 Manchester United (Mkhitaryan) This is an excellent goal, Jones hitting a raking ball out towards Fellaini at insid-left. The finest chest in world football takes it down and slides a pass for Zlatan, heading towards the by-line. He drags it onto his left foot then somehow swivels onto his right in about an inch of space and without breaking stride, cuts back a cross, and Mkhitaryan buries it from six yards.

53’ - GOAL! Rostov 1-1 Manchester United (Bukharov) Kalachev has all the time he needs to clip a ball over the top and into the middel, where Bukharov is in behind Jones - quite what he's doing, well, I doubt even he knows. But even so, his chest control is sublime, and as the ball drops, he tucks a volley into the net.

65’ - Chance for Rostov! Kalachev wafts forward, Bukharov tries to flick it on, and Poloz turns, sending Erokhin into the box, left hand side. But with no left foot, he's forced to shoot with the outside of his right, toe-ending wide.

90+3’ - Chance for Rostov! If Rostov had played with this intensity from the start, they might be in a better position in the tie. And they almost lose the match, Pogba shimmying outside the box, dead centre, and finding Zlatan on the right. He tries a curler towards the far post which is blocked, but United retrieve possession and a cross comes over. Fellaini is up, but the ball skids off his forehead, and doesn't quite fall for Martial.