Although Manchester United took a two-goal lead in the second round of the basic phase of the Europa League at Porto very quickly, in the end they had to settle for a 3:3 draw. After the famous turnaround of the home team, they were even close to defeat, but Harry Maguire saved them from that with a goal from the set time. Even Bruno Fernandes, who received a red card, will not remember this match well.
A promising start from the Porto side was quickly cut short by Marcus Rashford, who passed the ball all the way to the penalty area, took out two defenders and beat Diogo Costa with a shot at the near post. Another solid passage from the home side followed, but they were again punished by Rashford, who found Rasmus Höjlund and the Dane beat Costa at his near post for the second time in the game.
The two-goal loss looked cruel for Porto, but they managed to recover and equalize in a breathtaking seven-minute game. Both goals were scored after quality passes by Joao Mário, during the first of which, under pressure, Noussair Mazraoui unintentionally directed the ball into the goal. Pepe was the first to react to André Onana’s great save and cleared the ball into the net. His next ball into the box found Samu Aghehowa, who headed exactly under the crossbar.
Rashford’s half-time finish was a major blow for United and they soon got another in the form of the home side’s lead. Nico González sent Pepe down the right and the Brazilian teed up Aghehow, who darted to the near post and struck into the top corner. United needed a leader personality at this point but instead captain Bruno Fernandes received a second yellow card, both for high kicking. The Portuguese was expelled for the second match in a row.
Deniz Gül’s subsequent missed opportunity was ultimately fatal for Porto, as Maguire, the substitute, jumped the Red Devils’ corner kick in stoppage time and equalized. United thus scored the fourth European away match in which, despite scoring three goals, they did not win.
