Match Reports
UEL: Nine goals, and a painful elimination for Lyon
Olympique Lyonnais have been eliminated during extra time in a European knock-out game for the first time in their history - and it was a painful one. With nine goals shared between the Gones and Manchester United, including three in extra-time, neither side was willing to give up, and it was the hosts who came out as winners after Harry Maguire's last-minute header in extra-time.
The first game between the two showed that goals were to be expected, and it was Manchester United who began the brighter side. The hosts made the most of their supremacy, going ahead through an unexpected scorer in former PSG man Manuel Ugarte, who finished low after some great play and a show of speed from Garnacho saw the Argentinian wriggle away from the Lyon backline and put the ball on a plate for Ugarte to drill home (10').
OL would then again put themselves in trouble, when losing the ball to a high-pressing Casimiro and Lucas Perri had to pull out a fine stop to parry the shot to his left. Cherki would start to get into the game and was a great driving presence down the left side. The Frenchman combined with Almada to pierce into the box, but Maguire was able to block with a sliding challenge to the young Argentine's shot. The following corner was met well by OL midfielder Paul Akouokou, but André Onana shows some good reactions to parry his header away.
A mazy run by Rayan Cherki saw the Frenchman drive into the box, beating most of the United team and unleashing a strike that Onana seconded with a save. It was certainly a moment of magic that deserved better, but the Red Devils of United remained in front. Fernandes responded with a stunning volley from Maguire's long-ball which rattled Perri's crossbar. The Portuguese international then tried a shot from range which whistled just past the right post of Perri.
OL make second half comeback
Just as it looked like the half was done and dusted, Diogo Dalot shrugged off a challenge to take the ball down and finish into the far left corner with a low strike (45+2'). The second half saw United still in the ascendancy, as Alejandro Garnacho did his best to recreate Cherki's earlier mazy run, beating everyone before Lucas Perri made a stunning save one-on-one with the Argentine. Whilst it looked like Man United would go on to defend their lead in tranquillity, Corentin Tolisso would sound the revolt. The Frenchman managed to nod a header past Onana after a flick-on from Lacazette from a direct freekick to get Les Gones back into the game (71'). Then came the levelling goal when Fofana crossed to the far post for Maitland-Niles, who found Tagliafico on the opposite side. The defender's strike crossed over the line before Onana scooped it away when Lacazette blasted the ball into the back of the net for good measure (77').
The task would get even more difficult for Paulo Fonseca's men when Corentin Tolisso was shown a second yellow card for tripping Leny Yoro. Les Gones had to face up to the prospect of playing extra-time with 10 men. But OL managed to regroup themselves for what would become an action-packed thirty minutes to decide which side was to progress to the semi-finals.
From ecstasy... to agony
After holding firm with a man less on the pitch, Rayan Cherki provided the moment of magic after Fofana did some tremendous work on the left, shaking off three United players. Just as he loses the ball, Cherki bursts in from behind at the edge of the box and fired a left-footed shot into the back of the net past Onana, sending Lyon's supporters into pure ecstasy. (104') It got better for Les Gones after Malick Fofana was fouled by Luke Shaw as he entered the box. Alexandre Lacazette then stepped up to convert from the spot and double Les Gones' advantage (109'). It was then the game went from the real, to the unreal.
Bruno Fernandes reduced OL's lead with a right-footed strike across goal and past Perri into the back of the net (114'). Koby Mainoo provided a sickening blow to OL, when he skipped inside and whipped a strike past Perri on the edge of the box and send Old Trafford into raptures (120'). It looked like it was going to surely go to penalties… but Harry Maguire's header at the death sealed a painful elimination for Olympique Lyonnais and the end of their hopes of reaching the promised land of the Europa League semi-finals (120+1').
THE STAT - A painful FIRST
Olympique Lyonnais have been eliminated during extra time in a European knock-out game for the first time in their history. It's the first time that a team has scored four goals in a European match against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
