Nigeria’s Bonaventure scores as Man United draw in Brugge

Club Brugge were held to a 1-1 draw by Manchester United in their Europa League round-of 32 encounter in Belgium with Anthony Martial cancelling out Emmanuel Bonaventure’s goal.

The striker, who has played in all of Club Brugge’s six European games this season, led the former Belgium Super League champions’ attack while Ighalo continues to warm his way up the Red Devils’ bench.

Bonaventure, who has made two appearances for the Super Eagles and is touted as a future mainstay for the national team, played all 90 minutes while Ighalo, who would soon make way for the new generation, was given a 22-minute runout.

The 22-year-old goal poacher opened scoring 15 minutes into the encounter with a delicate chip over the goalkeeper.

He ghosted in between United’s centre backs on a quickly taken goal kick, controlled the long ball before delivering a perfect chip into the net.

The goal was his fourth goal in Europe this season after scoring thrice in the group stage of the UCL, including two against Real Madrid.

United equalised ten minutes before the interval through Anthony Martial. The Frenchman took control of a stray ball and waltzed into the final third, evading a defender before slotting into the net for a 1-1 scoreline at halftime.

Bonaventure continued to keep the United defence busy after the interval with a well placed shot requiring a good save from Sergio Romero at the near post.

Ighalo entered the fray in the 68th minute, replacing goalscorer Martial.

Despite his introduction, Dennis continued to stretch United’s defence, tying Harry Maguire in knots before serving a cross on the plate for Odilon Kossounou who managed to miss the target from a few yards out.

Ighalo endured a frustrating cameo, devoid of service, as both sides had to settle for a draw going into the second leg at Old Trafford next week Thursday.

Selected Europa League results

CFR Cluj 1-1 Sevilla
Club Brugge KV 1-1 Manchester Utd
Eintracht Frankfurt 4-1 Salzburg
FC Copenhagen 1-1 Celtic
Getafe 2-0 Ajax
Ludogorets 2-0 Inter
Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 Benfica
Sporting 3-1 Basaksehir