Lyon vs Man Utd LIVE: Second error from Andre Onana leaves Europa League quarter-final finely poised
Lyon 2-2 Manchester United: Andre Onana had two errors, including late on as the French side claimed a draw
Manchester United have work to do at Old Trafford after drawing with Lyon 2-2 in the Europa League quarter-finals.
An error from Andre Onana gave Lyon the lead in the first half after the goalkeeper allowed Thiago Almada’s free kick to bounce over his outstretched arms.
Rasmus Hojlund and Bruno Fernandes both had clear chances turned wide of the target as they searched for the equaliser which gave Ruben Amorim’s men some hope heading towards the second half.
Leny Yoro confirmed their confidence after meeting Manuel Ugarte’s volley with a glancing header which brought the equaliser on the stroke of half-time.
Joshua Zirkzee, coming off the bench in the second half, thought he had scored the winner after meeting a cross from Fernandes in the 88th minute but another mistake from Onana earned the hosts a point.
He fumbled a shot late in stoppage time but Rayan Cherki was on hand quickly to tap it home.
Relive the Europa League action with our live blog below:
Andre Onana’s dire performance leaves Man Utd’s Europa League quarter-final on a knife edge
If there was something to support Andre Onana’s theory Manchester United are “way better” than Lyon, there was further fuel for Nemanja Matic’s accusation. A day after the Serb branded the Cameroonian one of the worst goalkeepers in United’s modern history came a pair of mistakes to support his argument. This was one of his worst nights.
Arguably United were superior to Lyon but it was not reflected in the scoreline as a quarter-final remained on a knife-edge. That was due to Onana, who bookended the scoring with blunders, affording Lyon a 95th minute equaliser when he pushed Georges Mikautadze’s shot straight back out. Rayan Cherki, following up, tapped in.
Onana’s dire performance leaves Man Utd’s Europa League quarter-final on a knife edge
Ruben Amorim admits ‘there is nothing to say’ to help Andre Onana after costly goalkeeping errors
Ruben Amorim admitted there is ‘nothing he can say’ to Andre Onana to help him after the Manchester United goalkeeper made two mistakes against Lyon that cost his team a lead in their Europa League quarter-final against Lyon.
The first error saw Onana dive too late to stop Thiago Almada’s free kick and the ball bounced over his head into the back of the net in the first half before a fumble late in stoppage time of the second allowed Rayan Cherki to score an equalise and leave the tie delicately poised at 2-2.
Amorim admits ‘there is nothing to say’ to help Onana after costly goalkeeping errors
'I don't think Amorim likes his team'
Paul Scholes told TNT Sports:
“I don’t think Ruben Amorim believes that [his team are continuing to improve]. I don’t think he likes his team to be honest. I think he knows he hasn’t got a great football team. I think he wants better, he needs better.
“I think you can see that from the way he is on the touchline, he always looks disappointed to me.”
Amorim on Onana:
"[It is] important to focus on the next game for the league and then think about the second leg against Lyon.
“When one player has a mistake, all the team has a mistake so we continue like that.
"No we continue to do the same thing. Training, seeing the games, trying to choose the best eleven to win every match."
Ruben Amorim speaking to TNT Sports:
"We are really disappointed [to concede late].
“We should have taken a one goal advantage to the next game but we have the next game at home - we will try to win that game."
Yoro on the lessons United can learn from tonight:
“I think to be together like that, defend really well. I think we did really well. It was compact, we tried to block every counter attack, things like that we need to keep it and to give everything at Old Trafford.
“I think if we won 2-1 we would be more confident [to make it through] for sure we concede this goal, it's difficult but we need to keep our heads up. We didn't lose, we can win at Old Trafford.”
Yoro on scoring his first goal for United:
“I didn’t enjoy too much - no celebration because it’s normal, we want to win.
“No time for celebration. Really happy to score my first goal. We don’t have the win but it’s okay.
“Honestly it was really quick, I don’t even think about anything, I just put my head, try to score.”
Defender Leny Yoro speaking to TNT Sports:
"I think this is the worst moment to concede a goal like that. We were winning 2-1, I think away this was a good score but we go with a draw and we try to win the game at home.
“We defended really well but they are a good team, a good striker, so we need to be ready for everything but unfortunately we concede the goal.”
Onana at fault for United again
Andre Onana has now made nine errors leading to goals in his short Man Utd career.
It’s becoming a big problem for the team who are desperately trying to get themselves into some kind of form and momentum.
United will be the favourites at Old Trafford but they could have been further ahead.
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