Football: Manchester United concede late Europa League equaliser against AC Milan

A stoppage-time header from defender Simon Kjaer earned AC Milan a 1-1 draw at Manchester United in their Europa League last-16 first-leg match at Old Trafford on Friday (NZ time).

Teenager Amad Diallo's 50th-minute goal had put United ahead before Kjaer angled in a fine header from Rade Krunic's corner in the final moments.

The draw was justice for Stefano Pioli's Milan who had two goals ruled out in the opening 45 minutes as they opened up United with surprising ease.

The 18-year-old Diallo, who joined United from Serie A club Atalanta in January, came on as a halftime substitute and claimed his first goal for the English side five minutes later.

The Ivorian winger used clever movement to get behind the Milan defence, was picked out by a lofted ball from Bruno Fernandes and found the target with a smart back-header over Milan keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

United had been fortunate to go in level at the break. Rafael Leao had a fifth-minute effort ruled out for offside and then were very lucky when a Franck Kessie strike was ruled out for a questionable handball call by VAR.

United keeper Dean Henderson had to make several saves but the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side should have gone ahead in the 39th minute when Harry Maguire somehow hit the post from point-blank range at the back post.

Dan James missed another sitter after United had gone in front, turning Mason Greenwood's cross wide when unmarked and five metres out.

Elsewhere, Tottenham Hotspur closed in on a place in the quarter-finals as Harry Kane scored both goals in a 2-0 home win against Dinamo Zagreb.

The England captain was in the right place to convert a rebound in the 25th minute and he gave his side some insurance to take to Croatia next week with a second after the break.

It was an efficient display from Jose Mourinho's side as they claimed a fifth successive win in all competitions.

A hard-working Dinamo, who had won their last six matches in the competition, could have made a dream start when Mislav Orsic ran through on goal in the opening minute but shot tamely.

After that Tottenham were generally in command with Kane's 25th and 26th goals of the season enough to make them firm favourites to reach the last eight.

The only worry for Tottenham, who face Arsenal in the north London derby on Monday (NZ time), was the sight of Kane having an ice pack applied to his knee after he was substituted late on. 

Martin Odegaard scored his first goal for Arsenal and Gabriel and Mohamed Elneny were also on target to give the English side a 3-1 win at Olympiakos in the first leg of their tie.

Odegaard, who joined Arsenal on loan from Real Madrid in January, fired the visitors ahead with a 34th-minute strike from 25 metres before Youssef El Arabi equalised for the Greek team in the 58th minute.

Arsenal looked rattled after conceding a soft goal but Brazilian defender Gabriel restored their lead with a looping header and substitute Elneny sealed the win with a long-range shot.

Arsenal dominated the opening half and missed several chances, with Odegaard dragging a shot wide from a good position before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hit the crossbar with a deflected header.

Norway midfielder Odegaard struck out of the blue when he picked up the ball on the right flank and unleashed a thunderbolt through the hands of goalkeeper Jose Sa who should have done better.

El Arabi took advantage of sloppy defending as Hector Bellerin gave the ball away and with goalkeeper Bernd Leno stranded, the Moroccan striker scored with a clinical finish.

Bellerin made amends with a last-gasp intervention which denied El Arabi a second goal and it turned out to be a pivotal moment as Arsenal finished strongly.

Gabriel put the visitors back in front when he rose superbly to meet Willian's cross from the right in the 79th minute before Elneny put the icing on the cake with a swerving drive five minutes from time.

Reuters