Europa League: Jose Mourinho sent off as Fenerbahce hold Manchester United to draw

Jose Mourinho received a red card but his Fenerbahçe team still held his former club Manchester United to a 1-1 draw in the Europa League on Thursday.

In Short

• Mourinho sent off as Fenerbahce draw 1-1 with Manchester United
• Eriksen scored early; En-Nesyri equalised for Fenerbahce
• Mourinho argued for penalty, got red card around 60th minute

Jose Mourinho was sent off in the second half, but his Fenerbahce side battled to a 1-1 draw against Manchester United in the Europa League. Christian Eriksen's early strike gave United the lead, but Youssef En-Nesyri's header leveled the score for Fenerbahce shortly after the break.

Mourinho, who previously led United to Europa League glory in 2017, was shown a red card by referee Clement Turpin around the 60th minute, following a heated exchange over a non-awarded penalty. Forced to watch the remainder of the match from the stands, the 61-year-old still saw his side mount a spirited comeback.

Manchester United took an early lead in the 15th minute when Christian Eriksen finished off a swift counter-attack, firing home a powerful shot after a clever assist from Joshua Zirkzee. Despite gaining the upper hand, United's defense grew increasingly vulnerable as the match progressed.

Youssef En-Nesyri eventually punished United's lackluster defending, heading home a well-placed cross from Allan Saint-Maximin four minutes into the second half. The equalizer came after United goalkeeper Andre Onana had denied En-Nesyri with a stunning double save just before the break, but the Moroccan striker made no mistake on his second chance.

Mourinho's sending off came just after the goal, as the fiery coach argued vehemently for a penalty decision, but his outburst resulted in an early exit from the touchline. Despite the setback, Fenerbahce held firm, frustrating United for the rest of the match.

Ten Hag's side, plagued by inconsistency this season, now find themselves in a precarious position with just three points from three Europa League games. They had already drawn against FC Twente and Porto, and it has now been a year since their last European win-a narrow 1-0 victory over Copenhagen.

Adding to United's woes, winger Antony had to be stretchered off late in the second half, raising concerns about the club's growing injury list.

Meanwhile, Mourinho, reflecting on the match, praised his team's resilience: "My boys played an amazing match. We faced a superior team, but our performance was extraordinary, especially with the adjustments we had to make in defense. I couldn't ask for more from them," he told TNT Sports after the game.

Fenerbahce remain unbeaten in the group, with five points from three matches, while Manchester United will need to regroup quickly to avoid further disappointment in Europe.