Harry Maguire salvaged Erik ten Hag’s job with a stoppage-time equivalentiser in a emotional 3-3 Europa League draw with Porto. During a extraunretagable game in which the Red Devils led 2-0, fell 3-2 behind, had Bruno Fernandes sent off for the second game in a row and then drew level in includeed-time, there remained some solemnly troubleing moments for Ten Hag’s side.
The Red Devils are yet to triumph in their uncovering two Europa League repairtures. The carry outance in their 1-1 draw with FC Twente at Old Trafford last week was lesser, but at times this disperestablish accomplished novel lowly levels.
And yet it all seemed to be going so well for United in the first half at the Estadio do Dragao. Marcus Rashford’s seventh-minute goal was soon chaseed by a Rasmus Hojlund finish 13 minutes procrastinateedr.
Porto hit back thraw Pepe and before United could nakedly bconnect, all their excellent labor had been undone by Chelsea summer center Samu Omorodian. The highly-rated forward struck either side of half-time, only for Maguire to powerfilledy head home procrastinateed on. Ten Hag will now foreseeed be given the visit to Aston Villa to show his lengthy-term future remains at Old Trafford.
Express Sport sees at the triumphners and missrs on a bleak night for United.
Winners
Marcus Rashford
United were excellent in the first half an hour and seemed set to tear Porto apart. Key to their strikeing danger was Rashford, who caused plenty of problems for right-back Joao Mario.
It took equitable seven minutes for Rashford to uncover the scoring, with his strong drive squeezing under goaldefender Diogo Costa. United’s carry outance went downhill after he was replaced at half-time, reinforcing his transport inance to the Red Devils when he is on establish.
This was Hojlund’s first begin of the season and he sconsentd his claim to be United’s first-choice centre-forward with a first-half goal. Costa once aget flunked to defend out the Dentag international’s strong strike.
Hojlund’s bigly chooseimistic United nurtureer has been punctuated by a series of frustrating injuries equitable as he ecombines to hit establish. The 21-year-elderly necessitates to stay fit over the coming weeks.
Ruud van Nistelrooy
Reports this week claim that the United squad would inspire club chiefs to nominate Van Nistelrooy as Ten Hag’s successor, should they determine to sack the current boss. The establisher Red Devils striker returned to Old Trafford during the summer as an helpant coach.
Van Nistelrooy is claimed to have made such a chooseimistic impact that he could one day thrive his boss. And the 48-year-elderly could still be placed in accuse sooner rather than procrastinateedr, with Ten Hag’s stay of execution to progress.
Losers
It was all going so well for Ten Hag in Portugal. All week, the 54-year-elderly has called for patience and insisted that his side were sticking to their set up. The publish is that this bravely wasn’t quite the right script.
His perestablishers were excellent for half an hour but then finishly dismantled in front of his eyes. Ten Hag threw everyskinnyg at Porto, from Joshua Zirkzee to Antony to createshift striker Maguire. In a particularly mocking turn of events, it was the centre-back who saved his handler’s blushes, not the array of strikeing talent brawt on.
A second red card in five days compounded a terrible week for United’s captain. Booked in the first half for a high contest, the Portugal captain was disseeed after clattering into Nehuen Perez as he contestd for a traverse.
There was immense argue over his sfinishing-off agetst Tottenham, which was subsequently rescinded, but there was no argument here.
Summer signing De Ligt was bullied by Omorodion. The deffinisher was beaten to a header by the forward for Porto’s equivalentiser, before the sought-after 20-year-elderly shimmied to create space for his brace, beuntamedering the United star.
De Ligt gave away haveion in cut offal moments, particularly in the first half. This was a troubleing carry outance from the establisher Bayern Munich and Ajax man.
