Lyon 2 Man Utd 2: Calamity Andre Onana proves Matic right with two howlers as last-second goal denies Red Devils big win
THE good news is Manchester United are still very much alive in the Europa League.
The bad news is they still have plenty of work to do in the second leg at Old Trafford and much of that is down to Andre Onana.
https://twitter.com/footballontnt/status/1910414999874383873You could have scripted the Red Devils number one would drop a clanger after his incredible war of words with Nemanja Matic on the eve of the game.
And sure enough, just before the half hour he made a complete mess of trying to keep out Thiago Almada’s harmless looking free-kick.
But what was less expected was the way Ruben Amorim’s men responded to the setback and fought their way back into the tie.
Leny Yoro equalised on the stroke of half-time with his first goal for United.
And a couple of minutes from the end, sub Joshua Zirkzee rose at the back post to nod in a cross from Bruno Fernandes.
Who could have predicted the Dutch forward would be the saviour of United’s season when he was booed off by his own fans earlier this year.
Just when the visitors looked to have the advantage, they lost it again as Onana could not hold a shot by Corentin Tolisso and Rayan Cherki prodded in the rebound.
No doubt Ruben Amorim would have taken a draw before the game – but it could have been so much better but for his keeper.
BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS
The former Inter man lit the blue touch paper ahead of this tie by claiming United are ‘way better’ than their opponents.
That drew an amazing response from Lyon’s former Red Devils man Matic – who branded the Cameroon one of the worst goalkeepers in the club’s history.
The veteran Serbian was only named on the bench but the home fans made their feelings known – jeering every time Onana touched the ball.
Their improving team have won eight of their last 11 matches and have improved considerably since Paulo Fonseca took over.
That’s twice as many as United have won in the same period so maybe Onana should have studied the form a little more – or kept his mouth shut.
United’s part owner Jim Ratcliffe had been on the wrong end of more criticism from club legend Eric Cantona earlier in the day.
But the Ineos magnate made the journey across France from his regular base of Nice to take in the game.
And he would have been encouraged by the way United settled despite a hostile atmosphere in the Groupama Stadium.
They could have been ahead as Patrick Dorgu pulled a cross back for Rasmus Hojlund who got no kind of connection on his shot.
Man Utd ratings vs Lyon as two Onana blunders earn under-fire keeper a ONE out of 10
MANCHESTER UNITED were left ruing calamity goalkeeper Andre Onana as two massive blunders saw them leave their Europa League quarter-final first leg with a 2-2 draw against Lyon.
The season-defining clash for both clubs became even spicier ahead of the game following a war words between Onana and ex-Red Devils star Nemanja Matic, with the Serbian dubbing the goalkeeper “one of the worst in United history”.
It certainly riled up the home side’s crowd, who made their voices known as Ruben Amorim named an unchanged team – for the first time since his arrival – from the Manchester derby.
But Onana was found wanting when he failed to save Thiago Almada’s inswinging free-kick to give the hosts the lead.
Leny Yoro nodded in an equaliser just before the interval after Manuel Ugarte‘s volley.
And Joshua Zirkzee looked to have won the game for the visitors with his late header converting a Fernandes cross.
But United’s joy was short-lived as Onana parried a shot straight to Rayan Cherki in added time, and the midfielder tapped in to leave the tie on a knife-edge.
Here’s how SunSport’s Tony Robertson rated the Red Devils in France…
A centre from the other flank by Alejandro Garnacho picked out Bruno Fernandes but his shot was deflected inches over the top.
From the resulting corner, Casemiro’s acrobatic overhead kick was technically superb but went straight at home keeper Lucas Perri.
Yet as has happened too many times this season, United conceded the first goal and it came from Lyon’s first effort on target.
Maybe he thought someone would get a touch on Almada’s free-kick but he seemed to be caught in two minds.
But no doubt Matic was sat on the bench smiling – and claiming an assist.
Another former United midfielder, Paul Scholes, described it as an “awful” mistake and it was the eighth time one of his clangers has led directly to a goal.
United had to dig in and make sure they did not go under and they did that – while looking dangerous on the break themselves.
And deep into first half stoppage time they got an equaliser they probably deserved.
A Fernandes free-kick from the right was punched unconvincingly to the edge of the box by Perri and Manuel Ugarte volleyed it back first time.
Defender Yoro managed to react quickly – adjusting his body to flick a header beyond the home keeper.
Fonseca is serving a nine month touchline ban in domestic football for squaring up to a match official in March.
But he is allowed in the dug-out for European games and he had a job on his hands to pick his players up after that setback.
Former Arsenal forward Alexander Lacazette was brought on and almost made an immediate impact, volleying wide after some brilliant wing play by Georges Mikautadze.
Meanwhile at the other end, maybe Yoro was feeling full of confidence after scoring his first United goal but he was just off target with a low shot from distance.
Another frustrating night for Hojlund came to an end as he was replaced by Joshua Zirkzee midway through the second half.
That was a sign Amorim felt his team could still win this on.
And chances were coming at both ends and Tolisso wriggled his way into the box but then fired his shot straight at Onana.
At the other end, Garnacho, Zirkzee and Fernandes made a hash it when they had an overload on the break.
And the Argentine forward came so close to a winner as he got on the end of Dorgu’s cross but was denied by Perri.
They did get their goal as sub Kobbie Mainoo won an important ball and Fernandes crossed from the right.
There was Zirkzee stealing in at the back post to give United a priceless lead.
They could not hold on though as Onana failed to hold Tolisso’s shot and Cherki tapped in the rebound.
One thing is for sure – he owes Amorim and United a big game next week.