MAN UTD 5, OLYMPIQUE LYONNAIS 4
(after extra time. United won 7-6 on aggregate)
Manchester United have had some magical European nights, but not many will have surpassed the drama and excitement as they dragged themselves off the canvas to book a place in the semi-finals of the Europa League.
The Reds, who drew 2-2 in France in the first leg, appeared to be in no serious danger when Manuel Ugarte and Diogo Dalot put them 2-0 ahead in the opening period.
But a spectacular collapse saw United concede twice in the 71st and 77th minutes to send the tie into extra time.
United, with a man advantage after Corentin Tolisso’s 89th minute sending off, ought to have been favourites in the 30 additional minutes.
There were further dramatic twists as Lyon went 4-2 ahead as United’s wretched season looked set to further unravel.
Bruno Fernandes handed United a lifeline with a 114th minute penalty before substitute Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire, pushed forward in a do-or-die move, scored in the 120th and 121st minutes.
When Maguire’s header hit the net, it was bedlam inside Old Trafford, on and off the pitch as players sprinted from the bench to the far side to celebrate with the 11 players on the pitch.
Remarkably United are unbeaten in the Europa League this season in 12 matches – a stark contrast to their form in other competitions as they are experiencing their worst-ever Premier League season.
United manager Ruben Amorim explained how he had been motivated in the build-up to the match.
He said: “I was watching the 1999 [Treble] documentary to have some inspiration for these moments.
“It was a great night, the team were tired, 4-2 with one more player, we think it’s over, but here it’s never over.
“Here everything is possible, you feel the environment. At 4-3, after the Bruno Fernandes penalty, we felt we could change the game.
“We tried to put Harry Maguire up front because he is the only one who can score a goal with a header. Kobbie Mainoo has a lack of pace in this moment because of injury, but he’s really good in short spaces.”
Amorim continued: “One moment can change a lot of things in the players’ minds. We have to be really focused on Europa League and take risks sometimes with kids in Premier League. Fans have to understand that. We have to focus on the Europa League.
“Everybody in this moment believes it is possible [to win the Europa League]. We need luck with injuries.
“The sounds of the stadium was the best ever. Some people collect shirts, scarves, but I want to keep that sound, it’s the best sound in the world.
“I feel for the people who had to leave at 4-2 because of the traffic, they will be gutted.
“We know we are underperforming and deserve all the critics, but we have time to make something special of this season”
Maguire added: “Obviously it’s an incredible game. We made really hard work of it. We had full control in the second half, had chances to score a third, then they scored out of nowhere. It put us on the back foot.
“To go down 4-2 in extra-time to 10 men is not good enough. We opened ourselves too much. But we dug in and showed great spirit, that’s what this stadium does.
“I felt like the fourth goal for them was a sucker punch but that we’d get chances to get back into it. It fell to myself and thankfully I scored. It was an amazing feeling.”
Embed from Getty ImagesAndre Onana was recalled in goal by Amorim after being benched at the weekend.
Rasmus Hojlund, Maguire, Casemiro and Patrick Dorgu also returned as the Reds’ boss made five changes from the side thrashed 4-1 by Newcastle.
Altar Bayindir, Victor Lindelof, Christian Eriksen, Harry Amass and Joshua Zirkzee dropped out with Zirkzee being out through injury.
It was, however, the same starting line-up from the first leg.
There were five changes for Lyon from the side that beat Auxerre in Ligue 1 at the weekend with former Arsenal defender Ainsley Maitland-Niles coming into the starting line-up.
Ex-Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic dropped to the bench. Alexandre Lacazette, Sael Kumbedi, Duje Caleta Car and Abner Vinicius were also benched as Clinton Mata, Nicolas Tagliafico, Paul Akouokou and Jordan Veretout came into the team.
United’s bright start was rewarded when they took a 10th minute lead through Ugarte.
Bruno Fernandes broke down the right and played in Alejandro Garnacho whose produced a sharp turn to spin past an opponent before squaring a pass for Ugarte to find the net from 10 yards, his third goal for the Reds.
They almost doubled their advantage when Casemiro’s shot was superbly tipped around the post by keeper Lucas Perri.
Lyon had their first chance mid-half when Paul Akouokou’s header was well tipped over by Onana following a corner.
The French side was growing into the game as Rayan Cherki breezed past three United players before forcing a fine stop from Onana.
Akouokou then capitalised on an error before firing low at Onana as United suddenly began to look nervy.
Fernandes almost scored one of the goal of the season. Diogo Dalot launched a long ball upfield over the shoulder of the Portuguese who excellently executed volley smashed against the bar.
A 25-yard drive from Fernandes then flashed past the upright as United regained their poise.
United doubled their lead in stoppage time through Dalot.
Maguire launched a huge punt upfield and Dalot shrugged off Nicolas Tagliafico before firing a shot in off the far upright for his fourth goal of the season.
United made a change at the break as Noussair Mazraoui was replaced by Luke Shaw.
It was almost three when Garnacho burst clear and cut inside Clinton Mata before seeing his shot beaten out by keeper Perri. The Argentine ought to have squared the ball to Fernandes who was better positioned to score.
Lyon remained a threat as Corentin Tolisso forced another decent stop from Onana.
And they were rewarded when they halved the deficit with 19 minutes left from a free kick which was followed by headers by Moussa Niakhate, Lacazette and Tolisso who nodded home from six yards.
From a position in which they appeared to be in control, United were suddenly nervy as Onana saved the day again beating out a drive from Maitland-Niles.
And Lyon were level in the 77th minute when Maitland-Niles’ cross was met by Tagliafico whose shot was over the line when clawed out by Onana before Lacazette made sure.
Lacazette was initially credited with the goal before replays proved it was Tagliafico’s goal.
Amorim made two further changes with four minutes left as Ugarte and Hojlund made way for Mason Mount and Mainoo.
Lyon were reduced to 10 men in the last minute when Tolisso was sent off for a second booking.
United had a change to win the game in stoppage time and save extra time when Fernandes’ free kick was well turned round the post by keeper Perri.
Amorim made two further changes in the 100th minute as Patrick Dorgu and Garnacho were replaced by Amass and Eriksen.
The 10 men of Lyon stunned United when they went ahead in the 105th minute.
Malick Fofana broke on the left and was tackled just outside the box by Dalot, The ball ran free to Rayan Cherki who found the net with a low drive past Onana.
Maguire was pushed up front for the second period of extra time as desperate measures were needed in desperate times.
But it immediately got a whole lot worse when United conceded a penalty for Shaw’s foul on Fofana as Lacazette stepped up to send Onana the wrong way from the spot.
There was a further twist minutes later when United won a spot kick after Casemiro was fouled by Thiago Almada.
The referee was sent to the pitchside monitor after a VAR check and gave the kick which Fernandes converted for his 17th goal of the season.
That was nothing compared to what happened in the five minutes of stoppage time as United scored in the 120th and 121st minutes to snatch victory.
Fernandes fed Casemiro whose flick released Mainoo who fired home to make it 4-4 and 6-6 on aggregate as a penalty shootout looked the likely decider. It was only his second goal of an injury-hit campaign.
Barely one minute later, Casemiro contribute another assist with a deft cross which Maguire found the net with a glanced header for his fourth goal of the season which completed the remarkable fightback.