Manchester United pulled off one of their greatest comeback acts of all time, overturning a 4-2 deficit after extra time to defeat Lyon 5-4 and book a 7-6 aggregate win in the Europa League quarter-finals on Thursday.
With six minutes of stoppage time left on the clock back at Old Trafford, with two goals behind, United were facing season-ending despair, particularly after Lyon had come back from 2-0 down, being down to 10 men after the sending-off of Corentin Tolisso.
But a late penalty by Bruno Fernandes ignited the Red Devils, only for Kobbie Mainoo to level the score before Harry Maguire secured the knockout punch with a header as an astonishing comeback set up a semi-final with Athletic Bilbao.
The win provides United with a lifeline during an otherwise frustrating season, currently 14th-placed in the Premier League, they had otherwise looked as though they might miss out on next season’s European football.
United had taken control with first-half goals from Manuel Ugarte and Diogo Dalot, only for Tolisso and Nicolas Tagliafico to level for Lyon. Down a man, the visitors pushed on into extra-time, where Rayan Cherki’s rocket of a goal and Alexandre Lacazette’s penalty saw them go on top.
But typical of United, the response was there. Fernandes converted his spot-kick, Mainoo remained calm enough to fire home the equalizer, and Maguire leaped on top of it all to head home the dramatic finish.
Goalkeeper André Onana, who has faced recent mistakes and public criticism from former United midfielder Nemanja Matic, made critical interventions, while United’s first-half performance brought a glimpse of rare attacking fluidity.
Free from the dugout as he was, where he couldn’t coach while being banned from it in Ligue 1, his side came so perilously close. His bringing on Lacazette altered the balance of the tie, alas, though, because United’s toughness and quality won through.
From the edge of elimination to the threshold of European success, United’s comeback was one for the ages.
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