Manchester United reached the semi-finals of the Europa League after a panoramic second-leg encounter towards Lyon at Previous Trafford that noticed the hosts rating three targets within the final seven minutes of additional time.
Harry Maguire despatched the house followers into pandemonium as he headed the profitable aim within the 121st minute because the Pink Devils emerged 5-4 winners on the night time and 7-6 on combination.
It was a contest that at instances defied perception. Manuel Ugarte and Diogo Dalot had given United a snug benefit going into half-time however the French guests fought again after the break and drew degree by means of Corentin Tolisso and Nicolas Tagliafico.
With the hosts on the ropes, Tolisso was given his marching orders late on in regular time earlier than Rayan Cherki and an Alexandre Lacazette penalty gave the Ligue 1 aspect a seemingly unassailable lead in further time.
Nonetheless, a Bruno Fernandes spot-kick gave United hope of a comeback earlier than Kobbie Mainoo made it a actuality six minutes later. Then, because the tie look destined for a penalty shootout, Maguire popped up with the winner, sparking wild scenes within the stands.
United march on to the final 4 the place they are going to face Athletic Bilbao.
Into the semi-finals!#MUFC || #UEL
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) April 17, 2025
A memorable night at Previous Trafford
The drama started simply 10 minutes into the sport when Noussair Mazraoui discovered Fernandes down the best.
The United captain pulled the ball again to Alejandro Garnacho, who in flip minimize it again to Ugarte who confidently sidefooted residence.
United had their tails up. Lyon had been rattled. Lucas Perri saved properly for the guests after Casemiro’s curling effort seemed destined for the underside nook.
The French aspect had began slowly however they ultimately grew into the sport, with Paul Akouokou’s header drawing a wise save from Andre Onana.
The United shot-stopper, seeking to redeem himself after two pricey errors within the first leg, was once more referred to as into motion on the half-hour mark when Cherki danced previous Casemiro and Leny Yoro, earlier than hitting a low shot in the direction of the underside left however Onana was equal to it.
However simply moments after the Lyon playmaker was denied a fantastic solo effort, Fernandes practically scored a aim of the season contender when his elegant volley rattled the crossbar.
The Portuguese participant was starting to purr, and he noticed one other nice effort go shut when his 25-yard strike sailed inches vast of the highest nook.
Man United double their lead! 🔴
Harry Maguire’s exact cross is introduced down and completed off brilliantly by Diogo Dalot 🎯
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/P8tdi30Xll
— Soccer on TNT Sports activities (@footballontnt) April 17, 2025
Fernandes was trying the most probably to search out the online for United but it surely was his compatriot Dalot who grabbed the second on the stroke of half-time when he spun and rifled the ball in off the publish.
It was maybe a little bit cliche to say that the subsequent aim was large. However United might – and maybe ought to – have put the tie to mattress 5 minutes after the restart.
Rasmus Hojlund despatched Garnacho clear earlier than the Argentinian charged into the field. He skipped previous Clinton Mata however, one on one with Perri, couldn’t apply the end and the Lyon keeper beat away the trouble.
Regardless of the miss, issues had been trying rosy for United. However that was quickly to alter on 71-minutes when Tolisso discovered the online with a header after the hosts did not clear from a free-kick.
The temper had out of the blue shifted. Consolation changed by nerves. And fewer than 10 minutes later, Lyon drew degree.
From a deep cross, former Arsenal man Ainsley Maitland-Niles hit a volley throughout the face of aim which was turned goalbound by Tagliafico.
Onana appeared to have clawed the ball out, however solely into the trail of one other ex-Gunner, substitute Lacazette, who slammed residence from shut vary.
However replays confirmed Tagliafico’s preliminary effort was over the road anyway.
WHAT IS HAPPENING!? 🤯
Man United concede two targets in 5 minutes and the tie is now degree on combination!
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/2UZ3ubJQ18
— Soccer on TNT Sports activities (@footballontnt) April 17, 2025
As the sport entered the ultimate interval of regular time, United had been on the ropes. However Amorim’s aspect got a lift when Tolisso obtained a second reserving for what seemed to be an unintended journey on Yoro.
Further time supplied one other twist within the story. A participant down, Lyon accomplished the comeback when Cherki lashed his workforce in entrance after his teammate Malick Fofana had slipped.
Fofana was once more on the centre of the motion within the second half as he was introduced down by Luke Shaw within the field.
A penalty was awarded and dispatched by Lacazette to pile additional distress onto Amorim’s males.
However United weren’t down and out. They transformed a spot-kick of their very own 5 minutes later courtesy of Fernandes.
Kobbie Mainoo then despatched Previous Trafford into raptures when he accomplished the hosts personal comeback earlier than Harry Maguire blew the roof off the place when he steered his header into the underside nook to ship his aspect by means of and his membership’s followers residence in delirium.
HARRY MAGUIRE DOES IT AGAIN! 🚨
Man United have accomplished the comeback ✅
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/mcNnClCikl
— Soccer on TNT Sports activities (@footballontnt) April 17, 2025
