Nine goal thriller at Old Trafford
Manchester United 5 - 4 Lyon (Manchester won 7-6 on aggregate)
Where do we even start with this one? A memorable night in Manchester.
Manchester United staged one of the most remarkable turnarounds in recent memory, scoring twice in the final minute of extra time to pull off an astonishing 5-4 comeback against 10-man Lyon at Old Trafford.
Having thrown away a two-goal lead in just seven chaotic minutes during normal time, and then conceding twice more in extra time, United looked destined for a humbling European exit.
Bruno Fernandes then offered a glimmer of hope when he slotted home a penalty with six minutes left on the clock, following a VAR review that overturned the initial decision to wave away a foul on Casemiro.
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With the atmosphere inside Old Trafford transformed into a wall of noise, teenage midfielder Kobbie Mainoo showed nerves of steel to curl a superb equaliser into the bottom corner as the clock ticked towards full time.
That in itself felt barely believable. But United weren’t finished.
With penalties looming, and Sir Alex Ferguson watching on from the stands, the home side summoned a final moment of magic. Casemiro floated a ball into the box and makeshift striker Harry Maguire rose to meet it, guiding a looping header into the corner to complete an unforgettable night.
What followed was pure bedlam. Substitutes, staff and players swarming the pitch in celebration.
In terms of drama and sheer emotion, it was right up there with the greatest nights Old Trafford has ever witnessed. The result sees Ruben Amorim’s men progress to a semi-final showdown with Athletic Bilbao.
How do you even analyse that?
The task ahead for Manchester United remains clear. They still have a semi-final to navigate, and potentially an all-English final against Tottenham, before they can think about sealing a Champions League spot by lifting the Europa League trophy and salvaging something tangible from a troubled season.
But the events of this extraordinary night will take some time to fade from memory.
Plans are in motion to replace Old Trafford, a ground that has stood for over a century and witnessed some of the most iconic moments in football history. It was here that the Busby Babes played their final home match before the Munich tragedy, a 5-4 win over Arsenal. It was here that the Holy Trinity of George Best, Denis Law and Bobby Charlton lit up the pitch, followed by the double and Treble winners, the brilliance of Cristiano Ronaldo and the goals of Wayne Rooney.
This current side does not compare to those storied teams. But for one night, they produced a comeback that can stand proudly alongside any of them.
Maguire the hero. Some of the best reaction.
Liam C, a Manchester United Season Ticket holder, said: "Harry Maguire is the main story here. After being written off for years, he worked hard and fought his way back into the squad and the system. He is now a vital player, a first-choice center-back once again, and even scored the winning goal. If that doesn't demonstrate a strong mentality, I don’t know what does."
Jamie P added: "That was one of the most iconic European nights in the history of Old Trafford. Could this be the catalyst for better things to come? Imagine in 30 years time, do we look at that match like people look at that FA Cup match against Nottingham Forest in 1990."
