Man Utd avoid Porto humiliation; Elfsborg stun Roma; Lyon and Spurs win | OneFootball

More Europa League action continued on Thursday with plenty of games on the schedule.

Here is what went down.

Man Utd avoid Porto humiliation in six-goal thriller

Scorers: Pepe 27′, Omorodion 34′, 50′; Rashford 7, Højlund 20′, Maguire 90+1′; Red: Fernandes 81′

Manchester United were on the verge of another European collapse after a 2-0 lead but ultimately saw the points split with Porto 3-3.

Things got off to a thriller as Marcus Rashford suggested he had found his confidence after striking a low drive for the opener beyond Diogo Costa. The England international then caused more havoc on the left wing and teed up Rasmus Højlund for 2-0.

But then Porto found their touch, and in the blink of an eye, United were blown wide open. André Onana saved a header but Pepê was right in front to stab home the rebound before Samu Omorodion rose highest immediately after.

Rashford was questionably hauled off at the break, and without their leading creator, the hosts took advantage of the English club’s poor defending.

Omorodion beat Mathijs de Ligt for pace and rifled a second ball beyond Onana for 3-2 as the Estádio do Dragão erupted.

Things then turned worse for United in the dying moments as captain Bruno Fernandes was shown red in back-to-back games for a dangerously high challenge in the box.

It appeared Porto would hold on for a massive victory, but substitute Harry Maguire came off the bench to equalise with a thumping header as the points were split.

Lyon cruise past Rangers

Scorers: Lawrence 14′; Fofana 10′, 55′, Lacazette 19′ 45+1

Lyon ran the show in Scotland after beating Rangers 4-1 thanks to an in-form attacking line.

Despite the hosts having more shots throughout the match, the visitors’ clinical finishing proved the difference at Ibrox.

Rayan Cherki’s neat footwork in the box gifted the ball to an unmarked Malick Fofana who rifled home the opener.

Tom Lawrence later equalised when he capitalised on a dropped ball by goalkeeper Lucas Perri, but the lone goal wasn’t enough.

Alexandre Lacazette showed class is permanent when he stabbed home a cross from Fofana at the back post following some questionable defending.

He later scored a stunner into the top right corner from outside the box for 3-1 before Fofana also registered a brace on the night following a second assist from Cherki.

Elfsborg upset giants Roma

Scorer: Baidoo 44′ (P)

IF Elfsborg earned one of their most important European victories after grinding out a 1-0 win over Italian giants Roma.

The visitors dominated the game at Borås Arena in Sweden with 75% of the ball. Still, they failed to make any of their 23 opportunities count, with Paulo Dybala, Artem Dovbyk, and others falling short.

A defensive miscue undid them, allowing the hosts to find the back of the net from the penalty spot. Michael Baidoo stepped up on the stroke of half-time and sent goalkeeper Mile Svilar the wrong way.

Roma are still without a win in the Europa League.

From earlier…

Tottenham kids survive raucous Budapest

Scorers: Varga 90′; Sarr 29′, Johnson 86′

Ange Postecoglou called on four teenagers to start Spurs’ trip to Ferencvárosi TC and the kids proved alright in a 2-1 win inside a rowdy stadium drenched with rain.

The Hungarian side initially thought they scored when Barnabas Varga slammed home at the back post but VAR ruled him marginally offside.

Tottenham later capitalised on a defensive error from the hosts, and pinball around the box led to 19-year-old Will Lankshear teeing up Pape Sarr. He scored from close range at a tight angle for two goals in two competition games.

Lankshear was one of the best on the pitch in the second half, as was Mikey Moore, who drove Spurs forward as they looked for another. The 17-year-old picked out Timo Werner, but the German scuffed his first touch.

Ferencvárosi substitutes Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane and Kristoffer Zachariassen later caused Spurs problems but struggled to beat an in-form Guglielmo Vicario.

Brennan Johnson came off the bench and made it five goals in five games after slick touches in the box beat three defenders, and the ball went in off the post.

Drama ensued immediately after as Ferencvárosi were away on the break, and Varga redirected a whipped-in cross beyond Vicario for 2-1 but their rally was too little too late.

10-man Ajax slip up in Prague

Scorer: Chory 67′; Van den Boomen 18 (P)

After a thumping competition opener, Ajax suffered a slip-up in Prague, drawing 1-1 with Slavia Praha.

The Amsterdam giants registered only one shot on target most of the match and needed a misstep from the hosts to break the deadlock.

Christian Rasmussen was taken down in the box, and Branco van den Boomen sent goalkeeper Antonín Kinský the wrong way from the penalty spot.

That lack of an attack then returned to haunt Ajax in the second half when the hosts drew level. Substitute Tomáš Chorý rose highest against Van den Boomen to head home 1-1.

In addition to the dropped points, Youri Baas was sent off with a second yellow in the final 15 minutes, while Kristian Hlynsson was forced off injured. He’s now the sixth midfielder out of action for the club.

Other results…

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