Maguire heads winner as Manchester United pull off chaotic comeback towards Lyon

Manchester United unveiled a primary ever tifo that declared, “By no means Gonna Cease”, then did exactly this by knocking out 10-man Lyon in an electrifying near extra-time.

Within the first interval Rayan Cherki and Alexandre Lacazette had put the French two forward. However, now, drama: Casemiro went down and Sandro Schärer, ordered to the monitor, awarded a penalty Bruno Fernandes scored.

Then, within the final minute of extra-time Kobbie Mainoo made it 6-6 on combination earlier than Harry Maguire headed the winner. Cue utter bedlam as Previous Trafford erupted, and so United head to Spain for a semi-final with Athletic Bilbao: after this, will anybody wager towards them reaching the showpiece on the identical venue in Could?

With the host broadcaster’s cameras mounted on him earlier than kick-off André Onana hoped to quieten the scrutiny by way of a far quieter night time than final week’s private fiasco. The want was granted, within the early phases, as bursts from Leny Yoro plus slick back-to-front soccer from Patrick Dorgu, Noussair Mazraoui, Maguire and Manuel Ugarte stored the ball away from his zone.

Intelligent interaction, too, between Diogo Dalot and Fernandes claimed a nook United’s captain swung in: the supply disenchanted however the Portuguese quickly improved as he was instrumental in Ugarte’s opener. Right here, Mazraoui flipped the ball to Fernandes as he cruised alongside the correct. The ball was relayed for Garnacho because the winger, shifting over from his left-sided berth, ran in a near-post space. His move to Ugarte was as exact because the No 25’s left-foot end that despatched the house congregation into raptures.

Lyon, as rattled as Onana was at their stadium, vied with additional catastrophe when Corentin Tolisso dawdled and Casemiro took over. The captain tried to get well, failed, and was grateful to Lucas Perri for the goalkeeper’s save from Casemiro.

United have been in a wise and quick mode that put Lyon beneath siege. However they didn’t capitalise and so the Frenchmen breathed simpler and, then, thrust at their host. A sequence of raids have been launched into United’s space which had Amorim’s males buckling. Cherki noticed a shot ping off Maguire for a nook. Georges Mikautadze slipped in in the direction of the spot, Maguire hoofed clear. Nicolas Tagliafico’s effort was deflected out for an additional nook. At this, taken by Cherki, Paul Akouokou rose and headed and Onana saved. Then got here the clearest opening: Tagliaficao crossed, Yoro miskicked, and Ainsley Maitland-Niles, roving in behind, snatched on the probability to equalise.

Lyon had United in a chokehold. When Cherki danced via and unloaded a purpose appeared sure however Onana flew low and proper and pushed out the ball and his aspect survived.

Now, United roared again in a second which thrilled. Dalot common an extended parabola from his half and Fernandes, operating ahead, stretched to energy a spectacular volley that left Perri a spectator and crashed off the bar, drawing “oohs” from the group. Extra adopted when Rasmus Højlund swivelled and fed the irrepressible Fernandes: once more the try beat Perri, however this time the try spiralled huge.

United hurtled into the break like a prepare, because the interval completed completely for them with a second. This was route-one stuff, in high-class vogue. Maguire, deep in his territory, dropped a 70-yard move supremely into Dalot. The wing-back shrugged off Tagliafico, then coolly rolled residence, off Perri’s proper put up.

Mazraoui, maybe injured, was changed by Luke Shaw because the second-half whistle blew, as Garnacho continued to be a dagger in Lyon, claiming a free-kick by way of a lightning thrust. The Argentinian can lack composure however he was uber-calm when sprinting in after a Højlund defence-splitter. Getting into the world, an novice was product of his marker, he steadied, and blazed at purpose, solely Perri’s acrobatics stopping a sure third.

Quickly, he practically rued this, as Tolisso stole an inch in United’s space, and the rating would have been 2-1 however for wonderful Onana reflexes. If Lyon may pull one again, a grandstand end can be in retailer. Mikautadze might need carried out the trick however the No 69 slashed the ball huge in a second as panicked as Dalot’s was slick when, moments later, he once more bested Tagliafico. Instantly he was in Lyon’s space and crossing however no teammate may prosper.

From the Stretford Finish got here the “Ruben Amorim, he’ll carry the glory days once more” tune and, as Lyon followers lit crimson flares, the continental dream remained firmly on.

However, now, a Lyon roar as Lacazette beat Onana with a header and Tolisso nodded in.

United have been in disarray: a Maitland-Niles laser was repelled by a determined Onana leg however he may do nothing to cease Tagliafico’s equaliser, the No 1 uncovered by shoddy defending.