Soccer
Harry Maguire headed the winner as Manchester United staged a miraculous extra-time comeback to beat 10-man Lyon 5-4 in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie.
United had been cruising at 2-0 up with 20 minutes of the 90 to play, only for an astonishing collapse to see them taken to extra time and go 4-2 down by the 109th minute.
However, Bruno Fernandes’ penalty restored some hope, then Kobbie Mainoo’s 120th-minute curler and Maguire’s back-post header one minute later sealed the most remarkable of European comebacks.
It means Ruben Amorim’s hopes of winning silverware in his first season at the helm remain intact, with a semi-final against tournament favourites Athletic Bilbao to come.
United produced an excellent first-half performance and led within 10 minutes. Alejandro Garnacho stepped onto Fernandes’ pass on the right side of the area and cut the ball back for Manuel Ugarte, who tapped into a gaping goal.
Only a full-stretch save from Andre Onana denied Rayan Cherki a glorious equaliser, then Fernandes rattled the crossbar with an over-the-shoulder volley at the other end.
But United got the second goal their first-half pressure warranted in stoppage time, as Diogo Dalot outmuscled Nicolas Tagliafico and finished low across goal.
Lyon introduced some nerves through Corentin Tolisso’s close-range header with 19 minutes of the 90 remaining, though, then Tagliafico’s shot crept over the line despite the best efforts of Onana six minutes later.
Despite Tolisso receiving his second booking just before the 90 minutes were up, Lyon continued to press in extra time and went ahead through Cherki’s left-footed drive in the 104th minute.
A penalty conceded by Luke Shaw and converted by Alexandre Lacazette had Lyon seemingly coasting into the semi-finals at 4-2, but when Thiago Almada kicked the bottom of Casemiro’s boot, Fernandes kept his cool from 12 yards to offer United a lifeline.
From there, the Red Devils staged the most remarkable of rescue acts, Mainoo curling home to make it 6-6 on aggregate before Maguire nodded Casemiro’s hanging cross home to spark wild celebrations at Old Trafford.
This football club.
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) April 17, 2025
Data debrief: United’s greatest European night?
United have enjoyed plenty of European success over the years, but perhaps no victory quite as dramatic as this one.
This was just the second time United had won a game by a 5-4 scoreline in their entire history, with the other coming against Arsenal in February 1958.
It was also the first game in major European football history to see five goals scored after the start of extra time.
Maguire’s goal, meanwhile, was the first 120th-minute winner in any Europa League game, and the first in any major European tie since Atletico Madrid beat Liverpool at Anfield in the Champions League in March 2020.
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