Manchester United took on FC Porto in a thrilling Europa League match where spectators were treated to six goals and turnovers from both sides. Although United started the match brightly, Porto recovered quickly and in the end the Red Devils had to salvage a point thanks to Harry Maguire’s header.
- Manchester scored two quick goals through Rashford and Hojlund, but Porto quickly got back into the game
- Bruno Fernandes received a second yellow card, which complicated the situation for the visitors
- In the last minute of the match, Harry Maguire equalized with a header after a Christian Eriksen corner kick
Manchester United entered the match at a high tempo and took a two-goal lead in the first half. The first scorer was Marcus Rashford, who took advantage of a pass from Christian Eriksen and fired past Diogo Costa. A few minutes later, Rasmus Hojlund made his mark, following up on Rashford’s activity and making it 2-0.
However, Porto was able to respond to this lead. Even before halftime, Pepe reduced the score to 2:1, when the ball arrived in the net after a save by goalkeeper Onana. Shortly after, Samu Omorodion equalized to make it 2:2, and it went to the locker room in a tie
In the second half, Samu Omorodion was again a key player for Porto, who made it 3-2 for Porto in the 50th minute. United’s play began to falter and the situation was further complicated by the dismissal of Bruno Fernandes, who received a second yellow card in the 81st minute.
Maguire as the savior
Just when it looked like Porto were heading for a win, Manchester United responded once again. Substitute Harry Maguire converted an Eriksen corner in the 91st minute to head the ball into the net to secure a 3-3 draw. The match revealed weaknesses in Manchester’s defense, which are still not being addressed under coach Erik ten Hague. Under coach Erik ten Hag, United struggle to keep clean sheets, which was also seen against Porto.
The defense was poorly organized and failed to respond adequately to the opponent’s pressure in several key moments. This led to the fact that FC Porto managed not only to reduce, but also to equalize, and even threatened to turn the match completely. United have conceded three goals, confirming their problems in maintaining a lead. Moreover, this result is their third draw in a row in European competitions, leaving fans in a state of uncertainty.
Despite Maguire rescuing a point, United remain in dire straits. They have just two points from two Europa League group games and their defensive stats are alarming. The Old Trafford side have conceded more than three goals in 24 games since the arrival of Erik ten Hag.
Key players? Definitely Onana and Maguire
Goalkeeper Andre Onana was among the best players on the pitch. Despite conceding three goals, he saved United from even bigger problems several times, with his strike against Omorodion in the second half being decisive. Harry Maguire also played a vital role, scoring the key equalizing goal at the end of the match. His 91st minute header was a huge relief for United fans as it prevented another defeat in the European Cups.
As United struggle to find stability and consistency, this draw provided only partial relief. The team needs to improve especially defensively and turn promising chances into goals. Coach Erik ten Hag will have to think about how to improve the results in order to secure a more stable position in the Europa League. If there is no improvement, the pressure on the players and the coach will continue to increase.
Source: UEFA
