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.
United remain slight favourites to secure a semi-final against Athletic Bilbao or Rangers, but this had promised so much more – one of the best results of Ruben Amorim’s reign, salvation to their season in the form of silverware and Champions League qualification – when Joshua Zirkzee headed them into an 88th-minute lead.
And yet Onana contrived to have the final say. At fault for Thiago Almada’s equaliser, he was again in injury time. He was too erratic in Europe last season, leading to United’s elimination. History still threatens to repeat itself.
He can at least be grateful for his teammates’ resolve. For United, a year with many an unflattering statistic also includes a more enviable one. United are the only unbeaten side in the Europa League or the Champions League this season. Theirs has been a strange form of invincibility, given their domestic form, but they extended it. Even as they conceded first for the 24th time this season, they showed a proven ability to come from behind in Europe.
But they had to. Onana made the eighth error leading to a goal in a relatively brief United career; there was a ninth to follow. If one concern is that they are too regular, another is that they tend to be howlers. This was another.
His pre-match words were undiplomatic and unwise and led to him being barracked and whistled. That was even before he handed Lyon the lead as United conceded straight from Thiago Almada’s crossed free kick. Onana may have been caught in two minds by the presence of the jumping Moussa Niakhate, the giant centre-back trying to glance in a header. Yet his was a feeble attempt to stop Almada’s curling delivery.
The temptation is to say he was intimidated. There was a deafening soundtrack when he was on the ball. Yet he has made mistakes in far less hostile environments; it is an unfortunate habit.
And yet they can conjure a response on such stages. They did again. Yoro reacted swiftly to glance in a header when Bruno Fernandes’ free kick was punched out by Lucas Perri and Manuel Ugarte hooked the ball back into the box. It was probably a shot but Yoro turned it into an assist to score his first United goal. A Frenchman struck in France and Yoro threatened another when he drilled a shot wide from 20 yards.
If a defender looked a better finisher than the out-and-out forward as Rasmus Hojlund, who scuffed his best chance and looked ponderous, endured a miserable night, Amorim summoned a replacement in the shape of Zirkzee. Fernandes had a part in a second goal, crossing for Zirkzee to head in. The captain was the best of the United attackers to start, denied a goal when his shot on the turn was deflected over by Niakhate. In contrast, Alejandro Garnacho spurned a fine chance, volleying at Perri.
Meanwhile, Lyon brought plenty of noise from the stands and had some verve in attack. Mikautadze was lively and Almada added drive. Paulo Fonseca showed the ambition to win it by bringing on the veteran striker Alexandre Lacazette for midfielder Paul Okouokou. The former Arsenal forward could have scored with his first touch, steering a volley wide, and later directed an effort over. Corentin Tolisso sidestepped his way into the box but shot at Onana.
Then came the dramatic denouement, the late double act of first Zirkzee’s goal and then Cherki’s leveller. When the dust settles, it is a more than respectable result for United. A draw away against Real Sociedad in the last round led to a second-leg victory in Manchester. A repeat is very possible, though there was no gulf in class.
And on one of Onana’s most traumatic outings for United, it demonstrated they have a problem in goal. Maybe Matic was trying to apply pressure to Onana. Or perhaps he was merely highlighting a shortcoming.
