Late chance for United! The ball pinballs around the Rostov penalty area as United desperately try to get it under control and carve out a late opportunity on goal, but Martial misses an attempted volley and the home side just about hold on.
90' +2
A. Valencia enters the game and replaces D. Blind.
M. Carrick enters the game and replaces Ander Herrera.
And the second is Michael Carrick, who takes the place of Herrera.
United have made a late double change. The first player to come on is Antonio Valencia, who replaces Blind.
90' +1
Pogba commits a clumsy foul over on the left wing and gives away a free-kick in a dangerous position, but Rostov are unable to make it count after Gatcan fouls Smalling at the back post.
90'
The fourth official has indicated that there will be three minutes of added time. Can either side find a late winner?
88'
Thumping strike by Gatcan! A lofted pass is flung forward and finds Azmoun, who does well to chest it down to Gatcan. The Moldovan is in a pocket of space and immediately unleashes a rocket of a volley from 30 yards out, but it's easily saved by Romero in the middle of the goal.
86'
United, who have been on the back foot for most of the second half, are presented with an opportunity to launch a free-kick into the Rostov box from the left wing, but it's well dealt with by Medvedev, who punches the ball away before being fouled.
84'
Azmoun, who has looked bright since coming off the substitutes' bench, flies forward on yet another impressive run, but Rojo dispossesses the young Iranian with an excellent sliding tackle just as it looks as if he's going to penetrate the penalty area.
82'
Almost a chance for Azmoun! The youngster twists and turns on the edge of the United penalty area before trying to get a shot away, but he has the ball poked away from his feet at the vital moment and loses out to Smalling.
80'
A lofted pass is flung forward and almost finds Ibrahimovic just outside of the Rostov penalty area, but he's caught in a sandwich between Mevlja and Navas and ends up crashing to the ground, leaving him in some discomfort. He should be fine to continue, however.
78'
Ander Herrera gets yellow.
Herrera catches Poloz as the Rostov forward tries to break away on a quick counter-attack, and the Spaniard becomes the latest player to enter the referee's book as a result.
Minute
Description
76'
Fellaini goes close! A clumsy foul over on the left flank results in a free-kick for United in a very dangerous position, but Blind's cross ends up missing the head of Fellaini by the narrowest of margins in the heart of the penalty area.
74'
S. Azmoun enters the game and replaces A. Bukharov.
Sardar Azmoun receives a rousing round of applause as he replaces Bukharov, who is also showered with praise by the Rostov fans.
73'
T. Kalachev gets yellow.
Chance for Kalachev! The wing-back, who has really impressed during the second half, cuts past two United players before unleashing a rocket of a shot from 25 yards out, but his long-range effort sails several yards over the top of the crossbar.
72'
Kalachev angrily kicks the ball away after conceding a throw-in and is shown a yellow card, ruling him out of the return fixture.
71'
United win themselves a free-kick over on the right wing that's quickly whipped over to Blind on the opposite flank, but the Dutchman is unable to make decent contact with the ball and sends it looping out for a Rostov throw-in.
69'
Martial is presented with his first opportunity to get on the ball after a long pass is thumped down the left wing, but he's unable to get the better of Navas and loses out to the defender just outside of the Rostov box.
68'
United have made their first change of the evening, with Mkhitaryan making way for Anthony Martial.
67'
A. Martial enters the game and replaces H. Mkhitaryan.
Opportunity for Navas! A Fellaini handball gifts Rostov with a free-kick in a promising position. It's fired in by Kalachev and finds Navas over at the far post, but, stretching for the ball, the Spaniard can only send his volleyed effort high and wide of the goal.
66'
United, who have been on the back foot for the past 15 minutes, do well to win themselves a corner over on the left flank. It's curled into the penalty area and on to the head of Fellaini, but the Belgian can only send his downward header bouncing into the hands of Medvedev.
65'
Another chance for Erokhin! The midfielder links up really well with Poloz on the edge of the United penalty area before unleashing a thumping strike from 20 yards out, but it flies a few yards wide of the far post and fails to hit the target.
63'
Half-hearted appeals for a penalty from the home side! Erokhin charges into the penalty area and tries to latch on to a deft through-ball that had been played into the box, but he's beaten to it by Smalling. He throws himself to the ground and quickly turns to the referee, but he isn't at all interested and waves play on.
61'
United are trying their hardest to set up Ibrahimovic on the edge of the Rostov penalty area, but they just can't seem to find the Swedish striker. The visitors have performed really well since the break, which has made life incredibly tough for United all over the pitch.
59'
C. Noboa gets yellow.
Strange call by the referee, who decides to book Noboa after the Ecuadorian was kicked in the back of the leg by Herrera. The midfielder vehemently complains with the man in charge but doesn't do himself any favours.
57'
Kalachev breaks forward on another marauding run as he tries to carve out a chance on goal for Rostov, but this time he's unable to pick out a team-mate and United are able to deal with the danger.
55'
Blind is left in acres of space over on the left wing and tries to latch on to a cross-field pass from Young, but he's unable to reach it and the slightly overhit ball forward bounces out for a Rostov goal-kick.
53'
A. Bukharov has scored a goal for Rostov! Assist by T. Kalachev.
Kalachev was arguably beaten far too easily by Fellaini for United's goal, but he's certainly made up for his error with that assist, which perfectly picked out the veteran striker.
GOAL! Rostov have equalised! Kalachev pushes into the United penalty area before launching another long ball up to Bukharov. Once again, the striker does brilliantly to meet it, and he strikes past Jones before firing an excellent volley into the back of the net from close range. Game on!
52'
Space opens up over on the left flank and Blind does well to take advantage of it. He sprints down the wing and into a good position before firing a bouncing cross over to Young, who then fires a first-time strike that flies a few yards wide of the near post.
50'
Another long ball forward finds Bukharov, who does well to nod it down to Poloz. His strike partner controls it comfortably before trying to beat Rojo, but the defender sticks close to him and eventually wins the ball back for United.
48'
Thumping strike by Ibrahimovic! Blind charges towards the Rostov penalty area and finds Ibrahimovic, who takes over from the Dutchman before cutting on to his right foot. He easily skips past two defenders and shoots, but his strike is far too powerful and sails comfortably over the top of the crossbar.
46'
We're underway once again!
45' +2
A poor attempted header from Rojo fails to clear a long ball forward, allowing Rostov to keep pushing forward. They're unable to do so quickly enough, however, and, despite finally being able to penetrate the box, Gatcan loses out to Rojo and concedes a goal-kick.
45'
The fourth official has indicated that there will be two minutes of added time.
44'
The referee's yellow card is out once again, and this time it's Bukharov who is booked after catching Rojo on the top of his foot with a late and clumsy challenge.
43'
A. Bukharov gets yellow.
After receiving a short pass from the free-kick, Herrera spots Medvedev off his line and tries to catch out the goalkeeper with an audacious long-range effort. He's unable to do so, however, as the hopeful strike is easily saved.
42'
A dangerous sliding challenge from Erokhin catches Herrera, and United are awarded a free-kick as a result. It's sent short and worked over to Pogba, and the Frenchman is also unfairly fouled as he tries to dart down the right flank.
40'
After dealing with the danger, United try to break quickly down the left flank, but Poloz rushes back to help out his side defensively. He nods the ball out for a corner that is then whipped into a dangerous position inside the penalty area, but, once again, Rostov are able to deal with the danger.
39'
Jones charges into Poloz and brings the striker crashing to the ground over on the left flank, resulting in a free-kick for the home side in a promising position. Timofei Kalachev steps up and curls a cross into the box, but it fails to find a yellow shirt and is well collected by Romero.
37'
Poloz is immediately able to carve out a chance on goal after Rostov burst forward from the restart, but the striker's half-hearted effort from the edge of the box flies straight into the hands of Romero in the middle of the goal.
35'
H. Mkhitaryan has scored a goal for Manchester United! Assist by Z. Ibrahimović.
Assist Zlatan Ibrahimović
GOAL! United have taken the lead! Fellaini muscles his way into the left-hand side of the Rostov box before poking a pass into the path of Ibrahimovic. The striker beats Cesar Navas and then tees up Mkhitaryan, who is easily able to rifle the ball into the path of the net from close range.
34'
A cross-field pass is fired over to the right wing and finds Young in a pocket of space, but before he can whip a quick cross over to Ibrahimovic, Terentjev dispossesses him with an excellent sliding tackle that results in a United throw-in.
32'
Ibrahimovic twists and turns deep down the left wing before trying to send two separate crosses into the Rostov box, but both fail to find their way past yellow shirts and the home side do well to deny United a chance on goal.
31'
Rostov continue to enjoy a good spell of possession inside the United half of the pitch as they try to carve out a rare chance on goal, but the visitors have enough bodies back to deal with the danger just outside of the penalty area over on the left flank.
29'
Pogba commits a clumsy foul on the halfway line and concedes a free-kick to Rostov. It's thumped up towards the United box and into the path of Bukharov, but the striker is unable to get a head on the ball and loses out to Phil Jones.
27'
A weak attempt at a goal-kick can only find Ibrahimovic, who immediately powers forward. He charges towards the Rostov penalty and then tries to test Medvedev from 25 yards out, but his strike is poorly hit and sails high and wide of its intended target.
26'
The resulting free-kick is sent down the left wing and into the path of Blind, who tries to whip a low cross into the penalty area but has to settle for a corner. It's whipped in by the Dutchman and over to the far post, but Smalling is penalised for a push before the ball can reach a red shirt.
25'
A. Gaţcan gets yellow.
Ouch! Zlatan Ibrahimovic holds up the ball midway inside the Rostov half of the pitch and quickly tries to spin round his marker, but he's clattered into by a hefty challenge from Gatcan, resulting in a yellow card for the captain.
23'
Kudryashov makes a full recovery and the game gets underway once again. The home side quickly break forward over on the right flank as they try to find some joy down a flank on which they have so far found little, but they're unable to do so and end up conceding a throw-in.
21'
H. Mkhitaryan gets yellow.
A flailing arm from Mkhitaryan catches Kudryashov in the face, leaving the defender in a heap on the floor and resulting in the Armenian being shown the first yellow card of the game.
20'
Poloz and Bukharov link up well just outside of the United box before the latter charges into the left-hand side of the penalty area. He's in a good amount of space and is presented with a promising opportunity to shoot, but he delays doing so for slightly too long and is eventually closed down by Marcos Rojo.
18'
D. Terentyev enters the game and replaces V. Granat.
Granat has been been struggling after clashing with Mkhitaryan in the middle of the pitch, and Rostov have been forced into replacing the centre-back with Denis Terentjev. He will operate at left-wing-back, with Fyodor Kudryashov moving into the centre.
16'
Dmitry Poloz drifts out to the left flank and does well to pick up the ball in a promising possession. He then powers past Young and sprints towards the byline before whipping a cross into the penalty area, but it's poorly hit and sails behind for a goal-kick.
14'
United quickly win back possession and set up Mkhitaryan with another dangerous ball into the Rostov box, but this time the attacking midfielder is penalised for a clash of heads with Vladimir Granat as the two battled for the ball in front of goal.
13'
A bouncing ball is picked up by Ander Herrera deep down the left flank and immediately into the path of Mkhitaryan inside the penalty area. With his back to goal, the Armenian tries to control the ball before spinning and shooting, but he's immediately put under pressure by a group of yellow shirts and is unable to.
12'
Another long ball forward is able to pick out Bukharov, who has already caused a few problems for the United back line. This time he heads the ball over to Alexandru Gatcan, but the Moldovan's first touch is heavy and denies him the opportunity to fully control the ball.
10'
A lofted pass is thumped up the pitch and finds Aleksandr Bukharov, who rises high above his marker before nodding the ball down to Aleksandr Erokhin. The midfielder controls it well and immediately ploughs forward, but he charges into Chris Smalling and ends up fouling the United captain before he's able to skip by.
8'
Noboa darts into the left-hand side of the United penalty area and tries to wriggle his way past Young, but the wing-back sticks close to the Ecuadorian and does well to shepherd the ball out of play for a goal-kick.
6'
United push forward once again down the right flank before winning themselves a free-kick in a promising position. Daley Blind steps up and curls a deep cross over to the far post, but it's comfortable for Nikita Medvedev and he's easily able to collect the overhit cross.
4'
Ashley Young, who seems to be operating as a right-wing-back, gets himself into a pocket of space deep down the flank and quickly whips a dangerous cross into the Rostov bounce. It pinballs around eratically before falling to Paul Pogba, but the Frenchman is unable to sort his feet out quickly enough and is dispossessed before he can shoot.
2'
Christian Noboa picks up a loose ball midway inside the United half of the pitch and quickly tries to test Sergio Romero with a long-range strike, but it's sent straight into the hands of the goalkeeper and fails to trouble him.
1'
We're off! Rostov get us underway, attacking from right to left.
Good evening and welcome to our live text commentary of today’s Europa League last-16 first-leg tie between Rostov and Manchester United at Olimp-2.
Long trips to face Russian sides are never easy, but all the talk leading up to tonight’s game has been concerned with the state of a pitch that could cause United serious issues. Jose Mourinho has been scathing in his blasting of Rostov’s “field”, claiming that the difficult playing conditions at Olimp-2 could be problematic for his players.
On paper, United are certainly the favourites to leave with a first-leg advantage. The Premier League side have lost only one of their previous 27 games in all competitions, whilst they easily conquered Saint-Etienne in the last round to set up a tie with their opponents this evening. Zlatan Ibrahimovic may have been handed a three-game ban for elbowing Tyrone Mings but will feature tonight as he searches for his seventh goal in under a month.
Despite finishing in third place in their Champions League group, Rostov have proven they’re capable of troubling Europe's big boys. Bayern Munich were handed a shock defeat when they travelled to this part of Russia back in November, whilst PSV and Atletico Madrid were also given a tough time in difficult conditions on their visits.
Rostov shouldn’t be underestimated, however, as they are currently enjoying a good run of form themselves. A 6-0 thrashing of struggling Tom Tomsk means that they have lost just once in their previous 10 competitive games, and they also enjoyed two comfortable games in the last round of the Europa League, resulting in them beating Sparta Prague 5-1 on aggregate.
Manchester United substitutes: De Gea, Valencia, Carrick, Lingard, Mata, Martial, Rashford.
There’s just over 15 minutes left to go until kick-off, so let’s have a look at how the two teams will be lining up this evening…
Ivan Daniliants has decided to make just one change to the Rostov side that started the win against Tom Tomsk on the weekend, with Dmitry Poloz coming into the starting line-up to replace Sardar Azmoun up front.
Manchester United XI (4-2-3-1): Romero; Rojo, Smalling, Jones, Blind; Herrera, Fellaini; Young, Pogba, Mkhitaryan; Ibrahimovic.
Meanwhile, United boss Jose Mourinho has made seven alterations to the team that featured in their last outing, with David De Gea, Antonio Valencia, Luke Shaw, Michael Carrick, Juan Mata, Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial all making way for Sergio Romero, Chris Smalling, Daley Blind, Ander Herrera, Marouane Fellaini, Ashley Young and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, respectively.
The two sides are making their way out onto the pitch, with just a few minutes to go until kick-off.
HALF-TIME: ROSTOV 0-1 MANCHESTER UNITED
So far, things are going to plan for United, who haven't been at their best but have put in a professional performance on what has proven to be a tough pitch. Neither side have managed to carve out too many chances on goal, with the battle for the ball mainly taking place in the middle of the pitch. Nonetheless, United have looked the better of the two teams and deserve to be in front thanks to a well-worked goal finished with aplomb by Mkhitaryan.
The two teams are making their way back out on to the pitch ahead of the start of the second half. Neither side have made any substitutions during the half-time break.
FULL-TIME: ROSTOV 1-1 MANCHESTER UNITED
United have an important away goal under their belts to take into the second leg back at Old Trafford, but Rostov will be absolutely delighted with their performance tonight. They really impressed after the break, resulting in them looking the most likely of the two sides to bag themselves a late winner. It's almost certain to be a similarly close contest in what should be a fascinating second leg.
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