Man Utd vs Lyon LIVE: Mainoo and Maguire’s late goals send Ruben Amorim’s men into Europa League semi-finals | OneFootball

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'A reflection of Manchester United's season' - Amorim after heavy Newcastle defeat

Manchester United are into the semi-finals of the European League after the most thrilling clash at Old Trafford ended 5-4 in their favour with plenty of late drama.

The hosts took control of the match in the first half and dominated possession with Manuel Ugarte and Diogo Dalot giving Ruben Amorim’s men a two-goal advantage.

Lyon manager Paulo Fonseca made changes that worked perfectly. Corentin Tolisso pulled one back before Nicolas Tagliafico equalised for the visitors. Tolisso was dismissed late in the 90 minutes and the match went to extra-time.

Lyon were the better team even with 10-men. Rayan Cherki slotted the French side ahead and Alexandre Lacazette scored from the penalty spot to leave United trailing by two and on the brink of elimination.

But there was a twist to come. Casemiro won a penalty that Bruno Fernandes slotted home before Kobbie Mainoo, playing as striker, was calm and composed to net an equaliser in the 120th minute. Less than a minute later and Harry Maguire proved to be the match winner with a headed effort that sent Old Trafford wild.

Pinned

Manchester United salvage their season with breathtaking comeback for the ages

It was Bilbao or bust. Just when it seemed it would be bust, Manchester United condemning their season to utter failure, they instead salvaged one of their latest and greatest comebacks.

Harry Maguire headed them to Bilbao, for a Europa League semi-final against Athletic, perhaps for a return to the Basque Country for the final. They may yet get Champions League football, some £100m in broadcast, matchday and commercial income.

Manchester United salvage their season with breathtaking comeback for the ages

Man Utd 5-4 Lyon (7-6 agg): Ruben Amorim’s men were six minutes from Europa League elimination before the latest of late goals from Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire sent them through

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Mike Jones17 April 2025 23:14

Manchester United salvage their season with breathtaking comeback for the ages

It was Bilbao or bust. Just when it seemed it would be bust, Manchester United condemning their season to utter failure, they instead salvaged one of their latest and greatest comebacks. Harry Maguire headed them to Bilbao, for a Europa League semi-final against Athletic, perhaps for a return to the Basque Country for the final. They may yet get Champions League football, some £100m in broadcast, matchday and commercial income.

They may yet get redemption. They did on the night, after seeming to capitulate as Lyon scored four unanswered goals. Then came the United response, three of their own, deep into extra time. First the outstanding Bruno Fernandes, coolly slotting in a penalty that may have been generously awarded after Casemiro went to ground.

Flo Clifford18 April 2025 07:30

Noise at Old Trafford 'best sound in the world'

“We started well but we are not consistent enough to maintain the game for a long time,” Amorim continues. “When I feel the team is a little bit tired we drop a lot. We should do better with the two goals of Lyon.

“When we play against European teams, we can cope better with that, but in the Premier League we suffer a lot,” he says on the pace and physicality of the top flight.

But he ends on a positive note.

“That sound is the best sound in the world,” he says of the noise that greeted Maguire’s winning goal, before joking about the fans leaving at the 4-2 down mark to get the best of the traffic.

'When we scored the penalty I knew we would win' - Leny Yoro

“Honestly I don’t understand what happened. The fans are crazy, they really helped us today.

How did it feel at 4-2 down? “A lot of things, it was difficult, but when you heard the fans even with 4-2 you know you can do. When we scored the penalty [Bruno Fernandes to make it 4-3], I knew for sure [we would win]. We need to believe - if you don’t believe you cannot win.”

Maguire: 'An incredible game'

“Obviously it's an incredible game, we made really hard work of it. We had full control in the second half, had chances to score a third, then they scored out of no where. It put us on the back foot.

“To go down 4-2 in extra-time to 10 men is not good enough, we opened ourselves too much. But we dug in and showed great spirit, that's what this stadium does.”