Manchester United’s season lives on with the most dramatic of wins to secure a Europa League semi-final spot, beating Lyon 5-4 at Old Trafford.
It was as incredible a night as you will see in football, as Manchester United etched yet another special night into the club’s history books.
The first half was a walk in the park for United, leading 2-0 at the break, which surely would have seen Ruben Amorim almost feeling like it was nearly job done. However, this United side doesn’t do things easily.
Lyon came back to equalise in normal time before going down to 10 men. Extra time took a disastrous turn, with the visitors taking a 4-2 lead. All looked lost, but we should have known better than to write of a United comeback.
Bruno Fernandes scored United’s third before Kobbie Mainoo grabbed an equaliser, celebrating with an ode to Joshua Zirkzee.
As penalties looked likely, Harry Maguire had other ideas as he headed home in the 120th minute to take the lead and claim a history-making win.
United beat Lyon 5-4, raising heart rates around Old Trafford, and there were both winners and losers from the result.
Winners
Starting with the winners…
Noussair Mazraoui
For Noussair Mazraoui, Thursday night was short-lived as he was taken off at half-time but he still made his mark on the game.
Mazraoui played a brilliant long ball forward, which led to the first United goal by way of Fernandes and Alejandro Garnacho, before Manuel Ugarte scored.
Another reason Mazraoui is a winner is that when he left the pitch, United had a clean sheet, before going on to concede four with Luke Shaw on the pitch.
Manuel Ugarte
Another winner, as aforementioned, was goal scorer Ugarte, as he put in a performance which showcased what he can bring to the team when at his best.
Ugarte covered every blade of grass and put in an excellent shift defensively, barely putting a foot wrong while also impressing on the ball with a 96 per cent pass completion rate.
After a less-than-perfect first season at the club, Ugarte has shown enough to deserve the chance to impress next season, as he will be better in the Premier League with a year’s experience.
Kobbie Mainoo
Mainoo only returned from injury over the past few weeks and his impact on United has been instantaneous as he emerged as a late cameo against Lyon.
With no options, Mainoo was deployed as a striker replacement for Rasmus Hojlund and proved Amorim spot on with this decision as he scored a brilliant goal, which at the time drew United level.
If United are to go on and win the tournament, Mainoo will play a big part, and he proved that to Amorim on Thursday.
Harry Maguire
Arguably, the biggest winner of all in the game was the match winner, Maguire, as his importance for United was once again front and centre.
Not only did he score the winner, but Maguire made several pivotal blocks and tackles, without which United may have been too far behind to even contemplate a comeback.
Maguire also provided an assist for Diogo Dalot’s goal in what was a huge night for the former club captain.
Loser
Luke Shaw
Shaw was brought on at half-time, with many fans clamouring to see him in action as his left foot is a big asset in playing out from the back.
However, the 29-year-old had a pretty dismal showing as he conceded a penalty for Lyon and conceded four goals as part of the second half and extra time defence.
Shaw did little to show he should be at the club or in the team, and was a rare loser from the 5-4 win.
Rasmus Hojlund
The second loser from the game is Hojlund, who extended his unprecedented goalless streak.
Hojlund was replaced with goal scorer Mainoo up front, and the 19-year-old was instantly more effective leading the line than his Danish teammate.
Hojlund could find himself replaced in the starting line-up by Mainoo, which would be a disaster for his chances of salvaging a United career.
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