This was a contest in which United dominated but struggled to hurt the Dutch champions and the failure to kill off the defensive-minded visitors means that we travel to Germany needing to win to be certain of qualification.
Jesse Lingard lashed over the bar, Anthony Martial forced a smart save from the visiting keeper Jeroen Zoet and Morgan Schneiderlin was also denied by the stopper in the hosts best chances.
United saw nearly all of the ball early in the game but were unable to create any clear-cut openings, and the early stages were only notable for a touching tribute to a club icon as fans around the ground switched on their smartphone torches to mark the 10th anniversary of George Best's passing.
Zoet was called into action on 20 minutes to paw away Matteo Darmian's teasing cross that narrowly evaded Rooney, and the stopper then saved well to keep out Schneiderlin from a Daley Blind corner.
David de Gea was soon called into action at the other end though when Jorrit Hendrix's powerful drive was well held by the diving Spaniard.
Ten minutes before the break, Martial's effort from Lingard's deflected shot was kicked out by Zoet before Memphis fed the Frenchman on the left only for him to again be denied by the Dutch keeper.
The Reds started the second half on the front foot and Schneiderlin powered a header over the bar before Lingard glance a header narrowly wide from Martial's inswinging cross.
Luuk de Jong flashed over the top as the visitors looked to frustrate United, sit deep and hit on the counter, with a superb block by Chris Smalling from Santiago Arias coming at the end of one such foray forward.
Lingard fired over after good work by substitute Ashley Young, but despite the introduction of Juan Mata with seven minutes remaining the breakthrough remained elusive, meaning our European destiny will come down to Wolfsburg in a fortnight's time.
Overall team performance: 6/10
United Faithful Man of the Match: Chris Smalling
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