Manchester United's Champions League qualification hopes are still alive after a dramatic 5-4 win over Lyon at Old Trafford handed them a 7-6 aggregate win in their Europa League quarter-final tie.
The Red Devils were 2-0 up and cruising thanks to first-half goals from Manuel Ugarte and Diogo Dalot, but Ruben Amorim's side, whose preparation for the second leg was less than ideal following a miserable 4-1 defeat to Newcastle United at the weekend, contrived to a throwaway their advantage within the space of six second-half minutes.
A close-range header from Lyon captain Corentin Tolisso was followed up a scrappy Nicolas Tagliafico goal, before the former was sent off before full-time for a second bookable offence.
United failed to capitalise on their numerical advantage and Old Trafford was stunned when a breakaway led by substitute Malick Fofana saw Rayan Cherki, who scored the equaliser to earn Lyon a 2-2 draw in the pair's first leg meeting last Thursday, fire a scorching low effort past a motionless Andre Onana.
Fofana was then hauled down in the penalty area via a combination of Luke Shaw and Leny Yoro, and former Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette sent Onana the wrong way to make it 4-2 on the night with just ten minutes left to play.
All in attendance were understandably shellshocked by what they had seen, but they didn't have time to draw breath as Bruno Fernandes reduced the arrears after converting a penalty awarded for a foul on Casemiro.
Unbelievably, substitute Kobbie Mainoo fired United level on the night, bending a terrific effort into the far corner, before Harry Maguire, playing as a makeshift striker, got on the end of Casemiro's floated cross to bury a header past the statuesque Lucas Perri in goal.
The goal sparked pandemonium in the stands, with the final whistle moments later sealing a famous win for United while providing a real shot in the arm for Amorim and his players.
Man Utd player ratings (3-4-2-1)
Position / Player | Rating (out of 10) |
|---|---|
GK: Andre Onana | 6.2/10 |
CB: Noussair Mazraoui | 6.8/10 |
CB: Harry Maguire | 8.2/10 |
CB: Leny Yoro | 7.1/10 |
RWB: Diogo Dalot | 8.4/10 |
CM: Manuel Ugarte | 8.2/10 |
CM: Casemiro | 9.4/10 |
LWB: Patrick Dorgu | 7.2/10 |
AM: Bruno Fernandes (c) | 8.8/10 |
AM: Alejandro Garnacho | 8.0/10 |
CF: Rasmus Hojlund | 6.5/10 |
SUB: Luke Shaw (46' for Mazraoui) | 6.0/10 |
SUB: Mason Mount (86' for Ugarte) | 6.5/10 |
SUB: Kobbie Mainoo (86' for Hojlund) | 7.4/10 |
SUB: Harry Amass (100' for Dorgu) | 6.2/10 |
SUB: Christian Eriksen (100' for Garnacho) | 6.4/10 |
Subs not used: Altay Bayindir (GK), Tom Heaton (GK), Ayden Heaven, Godwill Kukonki, Jaydan Kamason, Victor Lindelof, Jack Moorhouse.
Lyon player ratings (4-3-3)
Position / Player | Rating (out of 10) |
|---|---|
GK: Lucas Perri | 5.8/10 |
RB: Ainsley Maitland-Niles | 6.6/10 |
CB: Clinton Mata | 5.7/10 |
CB: Moussa Niakhate | 5.3/10 |
LB: Nicolas Tagliafico | 7.910 |
CM: Jordan Veretout | 6.8/10 |
CM: Corentin Tolisso (c) | 6.7/10 |
CM: Paul Akouokou | 7.2/10 |
RW: Rayan Cherki | 8.3/10 |
CF: Georges Mikautadze | 6.2/10 |
LW: Thiago Almada | 6.7/10 |
SUB: Tanner Tessmann (55' for Akouokou) | 7.0/10 |
SUB: Alexandre Lacazette (55' for Veretout) | 7.6/10 |
SUB: Malick Fofana (64' for Mikautadze) | 6.9/10 |
SUB: Abner (106' for Cherki) | 5.9/10 |
SUB: Duje Caleta-Car (115' for Tagliafico) | N/A |
Subs not used: Lassine Diarra (GK), Remy Descamps (GK), Sael Kumbedi, Warmed Omari, Nemanja Matic.
Player of the Match: Casemiro (Man Utd)
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