Man Utd 5, Lyon 4 (Europa League Man Utd win 7-6 on aggregate)
Harry Maguire scored an injury time winner after an epic European night at Old Trafford as Manchester United beat Lyon.
Victory meant that the Reds progressed to the semi-finals in the most haphazard, shambolic, and drama laden way possible after 9 goal thriller ended with two late late goals as United came from behind to beat their visitors who had to play with 10 men for the whole of extra time after Corentin Tolisso was sent off.
United took the lead after just 10 minutes when Noussair Mazraoui’s ball up to Bruno Fernandes was switched inside to Alejandro Garnacho who unselfishly cut it inside again to Manuel Ugarte who was unmarked and slotted home past Lucas Perri.
Fernandes hit the crossbar with a superb volley attempt from a 50 yard pass by Diogo Dalot.
Dalot got himself the scoresheet in first half injury time when he got on the end of a long bad up from Harry Maguire – outmuscling Nicolas Tagliafico before slotting into the back post beyond Perri to leave the Reds in the first half driving seat.
United had Andre Onana to thank for bailing them out as Lyon got into shooting positions a little too much – twice saving from Paul Akouoku and also denying Rayan Cherki a wonder goal after he had skipped past four United defenders before unleashing a shot.
With United clearly on top they did try and get a third but Alejandro Garnacho didn’t seem in the mood to try and assist Rasmus Hojlund, going alone too many times for the out of form Dane whose frustration overspilled when he kicked the post in frustration at not getting a cutback when he was in a prime shooting position.
But they fell short on a set piece as Lyon pumped the ball into the box from a free kick and Moussa Niakhate and Alexandre Lacazette won headers and set up Corentin Tolisso to pull a goal back with a final header from 6 yards out with 19 minutes to go.
The nerves were back and Lyon fans had already used up all their flares trying to gee up their team when United’s defence fell to pieces with Lyon having three shots on goal only to find they had already scored one of them when Tagliafico’s shot was blocked by Andre Onana who was behind the goal line.
With the scores and the tie level with 13 minutes to go Lyon were on top until Tolisso was sent off for a second booking on with a minute of normal time to go.
United should have been on top with the extra man but Rayan Cherki pounced on the loose ball after Diogo Dalot tackle Malick Fofana to put Lyon ahead before Luke Shaw gave away a penalty which Alexandre Lacazette put away to give the French a 4-2 lead.
With 11 minutes to go things were looking bleak and United fans started skulking away as time started to run out.
But United were given hope after 114 minutes when Thiago Almada kicked Casemiro to earn the Reds a penalty after a VAR check – Bruno Fernandes tucked away the spot kick.
And with seconds to go before the end of normal time Casemiro laid on the ball for Kobbie Mainoo to equalise and then delivered a deep cross to Harry Maguire – who had been sent upfront as an emergency striker – to head home a famous winner at the beginning of added on time.
PLAYER RATINGS – Man Utd 5, Lyon 4 (Man Utd win 7-6 on aggregate)
Andre Onana: 7. Punched out an early ball into the box and brilliant save to deny Paul Akouoku a shot under the crossbar. Also saved from Rayan Cherki after the Lyon winger beat four of his defenders to get a shot off. Saved from Corentin Tolisso and Ainsley Maitland-Niles but could nothing with a header by Tolisso.
Noussair Mazraoui: 6. Started the move that ended with Manuel Ugarte’s opening goal. Taken off at half time.
Harry Maguire: 7. Big early tackle set the tempo. Blocked a shot by Rayan Cherki who came off the right before taking one for the team following a fierce shot by Thiago Almada. Big punt upfield finished off by Diogo Dalot. Could only watch as Lyon roared back in the second half then was sent up front after Lyon shredded the Reds defence to score the winner.
Leny Yoro: 7. Very confident showing. Not cowed by runs from Rayan Cherki and even went upfield himself.
Diogo Dalot: 7. Spooned a ball over the bar. Great pass to release Bruno Fernandes would have been a great assist. Had the physical beating of Nicolas Tagliafico and scored a great goal off the back of that to put United in the driving seat. Defensively suspect at times.
Manuel Ugarte: 7. Unmarked for his 3rd goal of the season but lost discipline in the second half.
Casemiro: 8. Shot saved by Lucas Perri. Could cruise around in a slower paced game but brought a little bit of his old Real Madrid remontada magic in the last few minutes, winning a penalty before setting up two late dramatic goals.
Patrick Dorgu: 6. Had to keep an eye on what Rayan Cherki was doing so not too much of an attacking threat.
Alejandro Garnacho: 7. Should have scored twice to end the tie. Unselfish cutback to Manuel Ugarte and worked hard to win the ball and give Casemiro a chance to shoot. Exciting run got the crowd on their feet halfway through the first half. Outpaced Clinton Mata in the second half but Lucas Perri saved what would have been an excellent solo goal.
Bruno Fernandes: 7. Everywhere again. Pushed up on the right to continue the move that opened the scoring. Volley against the crossbar would have made a superb goal. Scored a penalty and tried to motivate the troops.
Rasmus Hojlund: 5. Low on confidence again. Just not in the right place when needed and furious when Garnacho didn’t even look and tried an outrageous shot instead of squaring to him..
Luke Shaw (on for Noussair Mazraoui, 46): 5. Gave away a penalty to put United in the hole.
Mason Mount (on for Manuel Ugarte, 87): 6. Slotted into midfield and put himself about.
Kobbie Mainoo (on for Rasmus Hojlund, 87): 6. Went up front and kept his composure to score a last minute equaliser for United.
Harry Amass (on for Patrick Dorgu, 100): 6. Part of the late mayhem.
Christian Eriksen (on for Alejandro Garnacho, 100): 6. Tried to find space within 10 man Lyon defence.
GOALS – Man Utd 5, Lyon 4 (Man Utd win 7-6 on aggregate)
Man Utd 1, Lyon 0: 10. Manuel Ugarte left unmarked drilled a low shot home from 10 yards out after a great square pass from Alejandro Garnacho after Bruno Fernandes beat the offside trap on the right flank.
Man Utd 2, Lyon 0: 45+1. Diogo Dalot on the ball wide on the right, outmuscling Nicolas Tagliafico to get a long ball from Harry Maguire, before going for goal himself, scoring past Lucas Perri.
Man Utd 2, Lyon 1: 71. Corentin Tolisso headed a goal past Andre Onana from 6 yards out after Moussa Niakhate and Alexandre Lacazette headed a free kick in the United area.
Man Utd 2, Lyon 2: 77. Alexandre Lacazette tapped in a goal that had already crossed the line from Nicolas Tagliafico after United were lacking in defence again – unable to defend Ainsley Maitland-Niles’ cross from the right after Malick Fofana fired in a cross from the left.
Man Utd 2, Lyon 3: 105. Rayan Cherki smashed home the loose ball from the edge of the box after Diogo Dalot tracked back and tackled Malick Fofana who had cut inside from the left.
Man Utd 2, Lyon 4: 109. Luke Shaw gave away a penalty with a clumsy foul on Malick Fofana, and Alexandre Lacazette slotted it away with a stuttering run up into the bottom left corner
Man Utd 3, Lyon 4: 114. Penalty, Thiago Almada kicked Casemiro who went down, a VAR check recommended the ref go to the monitor and it was duly given. Bruno Fernandes tucked it away into the bottom right corner
Man Utd 4, Lyon 4: 120. Bruno Fernandes found Casemiro who flicked the ball into the path of Kobbie Mainoo to level it again.
Man Utd 5, Lyon 4: 120+1. Harry Maguire put United back in front seconds after the equaliser from 3 yards out after getting on the end of a Casemiro deep cross.
MATCH STATS – Man Utd 5, Lyon 4 (Man Utd win 7-6 on aggregate)
Man Utd: Onana, Mazraoui (Shaw 46), Maguire, Yoro, Dalot, Ugarte (Mount 87), Casemiro, Dorgu (Amass 100), Garnacho (Eriksen 100), Fernandes (C), Hojlund (Mainoo 87)
Man Utd Subs not used: Bayindir, Heaton, Kamason, Kukonki, Moorhouse, Lindelof
Bookings: Garnacho 50 (shirt pull on Clinton Mata); Maguire 93 (foul on Rayan Cherki)
Goals: Ugarte 10; Dalot 45+1; Fernandes 114 pen; Mainoo 120; Maguire 120+1
Lyon: Perri, Maitland-Niles, Mata, Niakhate, Tagliafico, Akouokou (Tessmann 54), Tolisso (C), Veretout (Lacazette 54), Cherki (Abner 107), Almada, Mikautadze (Fofana 64)
Lyon Subs not used: Descamps, Diarra, Kumbedi, Matic, Omari, Caleta-Car
Bookings: Veretout 18 (foul on Bruno Fernandes); Tolisso 45+1 (foul on Alejandro Garnacho); Tagliafico 64 (foul on Brun Fernandes); Tolisso 89 (foul on Leny Yoro)
Red Card: Tolisso 89 (2 yellow cards)
Goals: Tolisso 71; Tagliafico 77; Cherki 105; Lacazette 109 pen
Referee: Sandro Scharer (Switzerland)
Attendance 73,228