Lisandro Martinez's back was turned, his arms taut and the ball deflected onto his hand. Penalty, but surely one that had to be overturned. Inexplicably, the continental VAR system upheld a call as egregious as some in the Premier League last week.
Manchester United were humdrum and their marquee names ineffectual against La Liga's ninth-placed team. There was more than half-an-hour left on the clock to avoid defeat after Brais Mendez's conversion and Erik ten Hag's tinkering of roles was counter-productive.
The half-time withdrawals of Christian Eriksen, the standout player of the first-half, and Diogo Dalot were strategic but also complacent. United halted their momentum as much as the Italian referee who was inexplicably backed by his compatriot on the VAR. Boos returned at full-time, for the players as much as the errant official.
Read more: United player ratings vs Real Sociedad
Football's bureaucrats have to be mindful of their meddling in the game. Nobody is on the same page; handball is defined differently in the Premier League and Uefa competitions. The game is the same but the rules are different.
United did not conduct a post-match press conference in light of the news from Balmoral at 6.30pm that the Queen had died. Uninspiring though the Europa League may be, the final score should be rendered moot by United's next four fixtures against opposition from FC Sheriff of Moldova and Cypriot side Omonia.
But some of Ten Hag's decisions were baffling and warrant answers. He cannot use the pathetic penalty call to mask United's disjointed performance when they had entered the game on a four-game winning run. The six changes did not appear to be reckless rotation when United had invested £398.73million in the starting XI.
United are certain to stray close to six years without silverware and in an intensely competitive Premier League face a testing task to finish in the top four, particularly as Chelsea have moved to untangle their unravelling with the dismissal of Thomas Tuchel and appointment of Graham Potter, United's scourge twice this year.
This could yet be a Europa League or bust season for United. The competition provided a back door back into the Champions League in 2017 and they cannot turn their noses up at the Uefa Cup that ensured 2016-17 was their only successful season of the post-Ferguson fallow years.
The tie descended into frivolousness, with Alejandro Garnacho and Charlie McNeill, academy recruits two years ago, introduced in a vain attempt to salvage the game. United should look at the jubilant scenes in the away end and the Basque section of the directors' box. It meant more to Sociedad than United.
Exasperation returned to those in the stands; at the lack of alacrity to move the ball from defensive third into attacking third, at the calamitous Fred and Cristiano Ronaldo's tendency to be flagged offside.
There was meaningful appreciation for the Gorton-born McNeill from the Stretford End, a moment that will be etched into the FA Youth Cup winner and boyhood red's memory. That was the sole highlight for United on a sombre night.
There was a noticeably hushed atmosphere inside Old Trafford. The players' warm-up was not soundtracked to a pre-match playlist blaring from the speakers and the majority of supporters were in a palpably mournful mood.
The advertising hoardings were blacked out and the Europa League anthem was muted for a muted atmosphere. The minute's silence was observed as respectfully as United's 11th-hour arrangements. Both teams sported black armbands.
The tone for a third defeat of the season was set by the forlorn Fred, in the playmaker role that Eriksen is synonymous with. Ralf Rangnick pushed Fred into a more advanced role last season with some success, albeit as a No.8 rather than a No.10, and he was a fish out of water against Sociedad. On the first occasion Eriksen swapped places with Fred, his curling cross just evaded an appreciative Ronaldo, who applauded the intention.
Fred was played a hospital pass with his relocation and he was consistent in playing his teammates hospital passes. With a 6, an 8 and a 10 starting, it was illogical to switch the latter two, especially as Eriksen was effective when he sauntered into the final third. Casemiro was careless and cumbersome on his full debut.
Eriksen and Dalot were withdrawn at the interval, almost certainly pre-planned. Reassuringly for United supporters, the pair re-emerged for the second-half already showered and clad in tracksuits.
Bruno Fernandes, Eriksen's replacement, immediately centred presentably for Ronaldo only he miscued his header. It was a night a hand dictated the result
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