Lyon staged a late comeback to secure a 2-2 draw against Manchester United in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final on Thursday, capitalizing on two critical errors by goalkeeper André Onana, including a stoppage-time blunder.
The Cameroonian shot-stopper had a disastrous night, with his mistakes proving decisive in a match where United had appeared to be heading for victory. Onana, who had been criticized before the game by former United midfielder Nemanja Matić—now at Lyon—failed to handle a tame free-kick from Thiago Almada, allowing the hosts to take an early lead.
Leny Yoro leveled for Lyon just before halftime, but United thought they had secured the win when Joshua Zirkzee headed home in the 88th minute. However, deep into added time, Onana spilled a low shot from Georges Mikautadze, leaving Rayan Cherki with a simple tap-in to salvage a draw for the French side.
Amorim Defends Onana, Shifts Focus to Second Leg
United manager Ruben Amorim refused to single out his goalkeeper, instead emphasizing the importance of the return fixture at Old Trafford.
“Mistakes happen in football—we play a lot of games, and errors are part of it,” Amorim said. “There’s nothing I can say to André right now that will change what happened. Our focus must be on the next match, where we can turn things around.”
Champions League Hopes Hang in the Balance
With United struggling in the Premier League and at risk of their worst finish since 1974, winning the Europa League has become their only path to next season’s Champions League. Missing out could cost the club over £100 million ($127.6 million), further straining their already tight finances.
This match marked the first meeting between the two sides since the 2007-08 Champions League round of 16—a stark reminder of how far both clubs, particularly United, have fallen from their former glory.
Højlund’s Struggles Continue
Rasmus Højlund, who has been more prolific in Europe than domestically this season, missed a golden opportunity early on, skewing a shot wide from Patrick Dorgu’s cutback. Bruno Fernandes also came close, but Lyon’s defense held firm.
Onana’s Nightmare Performance
The spotlight was already on Onana after Matić’s pre-match comments, and his errors only intensified the scrutiny. Lyon fans taunted him relentlessly, especially after he fumbled Almada’s free-kick into the net.
United equalized before halftime when Manuel Ugarte recycled a loose ball from a Fernandes free-kick, allowing Yoro to nod in his first goal for Lyon. The second half saw chances at both ends, with Lacazette wasting a great opportunity before Zirkzee’s header seemed to seal it for United—only for Onana’s late mistake to gift Lyon a lifeline.
Cherki Optimistic Ahead of Second Leg
“We deserved more than a draw tonight,” Cherki told Canal+. “We played well, but we know the job isn’t done. We’ll go to Old Trafford to win.”
With the tie finely balanced, United must regroup quickly to avoid another disappointing exit, while Lyon will believe they can complete the upset in Manchester.
