HARRY MAGUIRE was the last-ditch hero on a night of incredible drama at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils looked to be heading out as they slipped two goals behind against 10–man Lyon with just 11 minutes remaining.
The Theatre of Dreams has seen some astonishing drama over the years but rarely has it witnessed anything like this.
Bruno Fernandes scored from the spot, sub Kobbie Mainoo got the equaliser.
And when makeshift striker Maguire got on the end of Casemiro’s cross to nod home the old place was shaking to its foundations.
Three goals in seven minutes and United’s hopes of finishing a disappointing season in glorious fashion are still alive.
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Ruben Amorim stuck to his word and restored Andre Onana in goal – after giving him the weekend off to clear his head.
The tie was on a knife-edge due to his two blunders in France last week, but it made for an atmosphere Old Trafford has not seen in some time.
The old place even unveiled its first ever Tifo before kick-off bearing the words ‘Never Gonna Stop’.
And to be fair – for around an hour they were unstoppable. United began looking like their season depended on this fixture – which, of course, it did.
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An early goal was just what they needed and it arrived in the 10th minute as Bruno Fernandes and Noussair Mazrouai combined well on the right.
That freed up Alejandro Garnacho who just stayed onside before squaring for Manuel Ugarte to slide home and round off a brilliant team goal.
It was only the former Paris Saint Germain midfielder’s second for United and what a time to get it.
Veteran midfielder Casemiro came close to adding a second but his shot brought a smart low save from Lucas Perri.
After a slow start, Paulo Fonseca’s men worked their way into the game and Thiago Almada, who scored the free-kick which embarrassed Onana last week, saw a shot bravely blocked by Harry Maguire.
From the resulting corner, Paul Akouokou’s header was smartly pushed over by the home keeper – a straightforward save but one which will have done him good.
When Ugarte got his goal, the keeper celebrated wildly – doing a little dance in front of the Lyon fans who had goaded him last week.
All his problems at Old Trafford have obviously not dented his confidence.
And he was called into action again as highly-rated Cherki weaved his way through the home defence but saw the home keeper dive full length to save his effort.
Not to be outdone, Fernandes almost brought the house down as he tracked a wonderful pass from fellow Portuguese Diogo Dalot and thumped a first-time volley against the bar.
A couple of minutes later, his 20 yard curler beat the outstretched hand of Perri but also drifted just wide of the post.
Right on half-time, his mate stole his thunder as Dalot controlled a long ball and shrugged off Nicolas Tagliafico before firing into the bottom corner.
The Argentine defender claimed he was fouled but replays showed he went down too easily and the VAR allowed the goal to stand.
It was an excellent half from United but begged the question where has this team been all season?
They could and should have put the game to bed in the opening minutes of the second half as Garnacho out-stripped Clinton Mata for pace and put the defender on his backside.
But then he fired his shot straight at Perri – maybe he did not see Fernandes alongside him as he would have had a tap in.
As it was, the tie was not quite over and Onana kept the two-goal lead intact – diving full stretch to keep out a low shot by Corentin Tolisso.
Patrick Dorgu also blazed a golden chance wide, and within minutes, United were rueing the fact they had not killed the French side off.
Moussa Niakhate and Alex Lacazette both got a touch on a free-kick and Tolisso’s header flashed past Onana.
Now you sense the tension in the stadium and within seven minutes their worst fears were realised.
Sub Malick Fofana crossed to the back post and Tagliafico’s shot was clawed out by Onana before sub Lacazette thumped home the rebound.
Replays showed the full-back’s effort had crossed the line – meaning he had made up for his earlier error.
The home fans could barely believe what they had seen – their team never does it the easy way these days.
Still there was another twist as the influential Tolisso got a second yellow card for tripping Leny Yoro.
So into extra time it went with United hoping to make the extra man count – but it was the visitors who had the momentum.
And right on half-time, the comeback was complete as Fofana sped away down the left and was stopped by a last-ditch tackle by Dalot.
The ball fell kindly to Cherki, who took a touch before beating Onana from 15 yards.
In the second period of extra time, they went again with Fofana chopped down by Luke Shaw and Yoro – before Lacazette sent Yoro the wrong way from the spot.
Incredibly, there was still time for Maguire to nick it.
Still there was time for more drama as Tagliafico went through the back of Casemiro and after a VAR check, a penalty was given.
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Fernandes beat Perri to set up a dramatic finish.
And in the final minute of stoppage time they were all square as Fernandes and Casemiro teed up sub Mainoo to slot home.
