Andre Onana was left humbled as his mistakes cost Manchester United in a thrilling 2-2 draw with Lyon in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final.
2024/2025 UEFA Europa League
2-2
Match Report
Joshua Zirkzee thought he had headed a late winner but a second mistake from Andre Onana in the dying seconds saw Manchester United draw 2-2 with Lyon in the Europa League on Thursday night.
Onana made himself public enemy number one in Lyon after commenting earlier in the week that United were "way better" than their opponents.
Yet the United goalkeeper was at fault when Lyon took a 25th-minute lead through Thiago Almada's free-kick, which floated over a crowd of players and evaded the hapless Onana.
And just when he thought his blushes had been spared by Leny Yoro – who equalised on the stroke of half-time – and then Joshua Zirkzee, who headed home what looked set to be an 88th-minute winner, Onana was at fault as Rayan Cherki equalised with virtually the last kick of the game.United head coach Ruben Amorim will have been pleased by the desire his team showed to restore parity following Onana's first mistake, with Yoro reacting sharply to head in his first goal for the club when he connected with Manuel Ugarte's wayward volley.
But Lyon saw great chances go begging through Alexander Lacazette and Corentin Tolisso, with United mainly limited to counter-attacks in the second half.
Not that the visitors cared one bit when one of those breaks saw Zirkzee head home from Bruno Fernandes' pinpoint cross.
There was to be a final twist for the ill-fated Onana, though, as he could only parry Georges Mikautadze's close-range attempt out to Cherki, who duly scooped in a deft finish to ensure the tie heads to Old Trafford on level terms.
Data Debrief: Onana's miserable day out
Onana might well be wishing he had kept his mouth shut in the build-up to this match, with his comments having led to Nemanja Matic labelling the Cameroonian as United's worst ever goalkeeper.
And while that may be harsh, Onana certainly did himself no favours. His first mistake meant he has now made eight errors leading to goals since the start of last season, which is more than any other Premier League goalkeeper in all competitions.
It would have been difficult to label United's performance as "smash and grab" should they have won it – they only had three fewer shots than Lyon and registered 1.22 expected goals to their hosts' 1.52 – but the French team will believe they were worthy of at least a draw.
The fact that Onana then gifted it to Cherki on a plate in the dying embers will only make it sweeter.
That being said, Lyon are now without a competitive win against United in five attempts. They have only faced Barcelona more often without tasting victory (P8 D3 L5).
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
1' Foul from Akouokou as he tackles down Garnacho from behind
7' Bruno puts a dangerous cross in, Tolisso is able to hook it behind for a corner
13' Mikautadze delivers a cross but it is saved by Onana
18' A first sight of goal for Hojlund but his attempt rolls wide
20' Almada takes aim from the edge of the box and blazes his shot high over crossbar
23' Garnacho pulls the ball back to Bruno but his shot gets a deflection & goes high
24' Casemiro tries a spectacular overhead effort but cannot beat Lucas Perri
25' Almada curls in a dangerous cross and it goes beyond Onana! Lyon 1-0 Man Utd
31' Dalot catches Tagliafico late and is shown the yellow card
44' Almada's free kick shot is high
50' Leny Yoro equalizes for Devils just before half-time! Lyon 1-1 Man Utd
51' Akouokou off, Lacazette on
52' Ugarte gets given a yellow card for a cynical challenge on Mikautadze
53' Mikautadze clips the ball into the area but Lacazette slices the ball wide
61' Yoro drives to the edge of the box and fires narrowly wide
63' Hojlund is replaced by Zirkzee
64' Tolisso left-footed shot is caught and held by Onana
68' Garnacho's pass is just ahead of Bruno and the chance goes begging
72' Mason Mount is on and Manuel Ugarte is subbed off
79' Dorgu delivers a ball to Garnacho but his volley is turned away by Perri
80' Casemiro heads narrowly wide from the corner
82' Mainoo makes his return, replacing Garnacho, and Maguire comes off for Lindelof
85' Cherki works an opportunity for Lacazette but the striker can't get it on target
88' Zirkzee heads in at the back post to give Devils the lead! Lyon 1-2 Man Utd
90'+5' GOAL! Lyon 2-2 Man Utd (Rayan Cherki)
Line-ups
Lyon XI: Tagliafico, Veretout, Mata, Tolisso, Maitland-Niles, Niakhate, Lucas Perri, Paul Akouokou, Thiago Almada, Cherki, Georges Mikautadze
Subs: Matic, Lacazette, Caleta-Car, Rémy Descamps, Warmed Omari, Saël Kumbedi, Abner, Lassine Diarra, Enzo Molebe, Téo Barisic, M. de Carvalho, Alejandro Gomes Rodríguez
Man Utd XI: Casemiro, Maguire, Bruno Fernandes, Onana, Mazraoui, Dalot, Ugarte, Garnacho, Højlund, Yoro, Patrick Dorgu
Subs: Heaton, Eriksen, Lindelof, Luke Shaw, Mount, Altay Bayındır, Zirkzee, Mainoo, Jack Moorhouse, Harry Amass, Jaydan Kamason, Godwill Kukonki