Anthony Elanga keeps Man United's Champions League hopes alive, picking up slack of Rashford & Co.

MADRID — Anthony Elanga is quickly becoming indispensable to Manchester United, and at just 19 years old, he may have kept his club's Champions League ambitions alive with a crucial equaliser to earn a 1-1 round-of-16 first-leg draw against Atletico Madrid at the Estadio Metropolitano.

Prior to Elanga's goal, United had been abject against Diego Simeone's team Wednesday, failing to register a shot on target and being outrun and outfought by their determined opponents, who started without five key players because of injury, suspension or lack of match fitness. Elanga had been on the pitch for only five minutes, having replaced the disappointing Marcus Rashford on 75 minutes, but the Sweden U21 forward produced a nerveless finish to guide Bruno Fernandes's pass beyond goalkeeper Jan Oblak with a first-time shot with his right foot to score his first Champions League goal.

«I think it was my first touch,» Elanga said after the match. «I have dreamt of moments like this, scoring in the Champions League against top European teams like Atletico Madrid, a dream come true.

— Stream ESPN FC Daily on ESPN+ (U.S. only) — Don't have ESPN? Get instant access

»I told you how calm and cool I am, and whenever I am given an opportunity, I want to repay the manager and give 150% every time I step onto the pitch."

United interim manager Ralf Rangnick has made some pretty effective substitutions in recent weeks — none more so than when seeing Elanga and Fred score twice in quick succession to seal a 4-2 win at Leeds United on Sunday after being sent on in the second half — and he did so again by switching Rashford for Elanga against last season's LaLiga champions.

And during his brief appearance, Elanga looked sharper, hungrier and much