'More than a miracle' - how Man Utd won in remarkable extra time
There were 109 minutes on the clock at Old Trafford when Lyon forward Alexandre Lacazette effectively ended Manchester United's season.Thousands of fans headed for the exits with United 4-2 down on the night, 6-4 on aggregate, 11 minutes left. Game over."United need more than a miracle," Rio Ferdinand said on TNT Sports commentary.Then the miracle unfolded.
But as the famous song goes, Man Utd will never die.Bruno Fernandes, perhaps the only United player to have done himself justice this season, pulled one back from the penalty spot after Casemiro was kicked during a frantic scrabble. Six minutes remaining.
In the 120th minute, substitute Kobbie Mainoo cut inside his man and bent a stunning, curling strike into the bottom far corner.It's been a difficult campaign for the young England midfielder after shooting to stardom last season, but this was a moment befitting of his quality.All square on the night and on aggregate. Penalties looming, six weeks after suffering shootout elimination in the FA Cup.
Not today said Harry Maguire, the ultimate scapegoat figure of United's steady decline who continues to step up in big moments.Less than a minute after Mainoo struck, Maguire was wheeling away in delerious celebration after heading in the winner. Bedlam."I've never seen anything like that as a spectator. It was an amazing thing. We saw so many fans leaving when it was 4-2 and you thought that was over," former United defender Rio Ferdinand said on TNT Sports."I said on commentary it would take more than a miracle to get back into it and now I'm actually a believer because that was outrageous."
'I have seen nothing like it'
Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson was similarly gobsmacked on BBC Radio 5 Live."The scenes inside Old Trafford are something else," he said."I have seen nothing like it. Bedlam. The stewards are on the pitch, fans are on the pitch and staff are on the pitch. Andre Onana is doing laps of celebrations. Old Trafford has not seen scenes like this for many a year."I don't think I have ever seen a game like that. They looked dead and buried. I have not seen that character from them all season."Superlatives, you run out of them."Never before have five goals been scored during a period of extra time in a European knockout fixture.United's comeback was as ludicrous as it was improbable, but when the Theatre of Dreams is concerned, strange things have been known to happen."You've seen special things happen at this club. I think back to the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer against Liverpool [in 1999]. It reminded me slightly, I know that's only 2-1 and this was 5-4," said former United midfielder Paul Scholes on TNT Sports."I always feel like when you get one here you've got a chance."Perhaps United defender Leny Yoro summed it up best."Honestly, I don't understand what's happened. It was crazy! The fans helped us to do it. When you hear the fans, even at 4-2 you know we can do it," he told TNT Sports."We needed to believe and if you don't believe you cannot win. This is what the fans deserve - they give everything at every game."United are 14th in the Premier League and will finish the season with their lowest-ever Premier League points tally.But now they have something to play for. Get past Athletic Bilbao in the semi-finals next month, and they will contest the final at Bilbao's San Mames.Win that and they will play in the Champions League next season.Fans won't be thinking about that though - they'll be reliving the scenes at Old Trafford on Thursday for years to come.
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