Manchester United survived an early scare to do enough to earn a crucial win in Lyon, and take an advantage back to Old Trafford in this Europa League quarter final first leg – only for a second Andre Onana howler on the night to gift the hosts a 2-2 draw, and parity going to Manchester.
Lyon enjoyed much of the early possession but United created the most promising chances. Hojlund ought to have done better after quarter of an hour, Fernandes had an effort deflected over after good work from Garnacho, and from the resultant corner, Casemiro tried an outrageous overhead kick, but it went straight at the goalkeeper.
The moment United fans had been fearing arrived just a minute after Casemiro’s effort, when Lyon were awarded a free-kick, and a fairly tame delivery was strick without any great conviction by Almada – but Onana flapped at it, at the ball went softly past everyone and into the goal.
United had started well – while it’s difficult to say Onana’s pre-match comments were a contributing factor to anything that happened, it just didn’t present the club or the squad in the most favourable light, and always ran the risk of making them look silly if Onana was to make as basic an error as he did – and as he was likely to do.
On the stroke of half-time, United grabbed a vital goal – Fernandes whipped in a free-kick, the goalkeeper punched it out, Ugarte tried to volley it back and Yoro opportunistically stuck out his head to direct the ball into the net.
The first stages of the second half were much like the first; United looking more competent in this new shape, but rarely looking good, and almost always presenting more questions than answers – like, for example, if Alejandro Garnacho continues to flatter to decieve in this more narrow and withdrawn role, do United lose more in the talent if they eventually feel that the Argentinian is worth more as a transfer asset, in the scenario that this system ultimately fails to take? And if Garnacho is ultimately sold, and a Mason Mount – who has never looked like starring in a league-winning side – is his replacement, is this ultimately a wise strategy to advance Manchester United quickly back to where they want to be?
Such questions are for the future but worth pondering in the moments where United sluggishly paddle their way through long and laborious passages of football matches.
Especially when, like in the 80th minute, Garnacho did more than most of the forwards had done previously by getting on the edge of a cross – only to find the goalkeeper equal to it. Garnacho was promptly replaced by the returning Kobbie Mainoo, himself the subject of transfer speculation.
The decisive moment on the night appeared to ahve arrived in the 88th minute – Lyon couldn’t clear their lines, Mainoo intelligently found Fernandes, whose cross met Zirkzee’s head at the far post. The Dutch forward’s header went through the goalkeeper – 2-1 to the visitors.
But deep into injury time, Onana failed to deal with a shot, leaving an easy chance for Cherki to equalise. United ended up with what might have been a creditable away draw, but will surely feel as though a needless subplot contributed once more to a comical conclusion. Not that Ruben Amorim, or any United supporters, will be laughing.
Ratings
Onana 3
Mazraoui 7
Maguire 6
Yoro 8
Dalot 6
Ugarte 7
Casemiro 6
Dorgu 6
Garnacho 6
Fernandes
Hojlund 4
Subs
Zirkzee 7
Mount
Lindelof
Mainoo
