Manchester United pulled off a dramatic escape to reach the semi-finals of the Europa League, salvaging their season in unforgettable fashion.
The game looked all but lost when United, after leading 2-0 at half-time, found themselves trailing 4-2 against Lyon, seemingly heading out of the competition. However, stoppage-time goals in extra time from Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire turned the tide, securing a 5-4 win on the night and a 7-6 aggregate victory—one of the club’s most thrilling European nights.
“It was 4-2, and with one less player, you think it’s over,” said manager Ruben Amorim. “But here, it’s never over. I watched the ’99 documentary again for inspiration in these moments; it was a great night.”
After a 2-2 draw in the first leg, United were in a comfortable position at the break with a two-goal lead, courtesy of Manuel Ugarte and Diogo Dalot. But, true to the unpredictable nature of 2025 Manchester United, things soon took a turn. Lyon responded with goals from Corentin Tolisso and Nicolas Tagliafico, with United’s defense under pressure.
The game looked sealed when Rayan Cherki and Alexandre Lacazette put Lyon ahead 4-2, but United refused to give up.
“Even when it was 3-2, we felt we had chances to come back,” Maguire, the match-winner, said. “When we got to four, I knew there’d be another chance. Thankfully, it fell to me, and I put it in the back of the net—it was an amazing feeling.”
Mainoo, who played a crucial part in the comeback, reflected on the win: “It was an incredible comeback, though we put ourselves in that situation. When I came on, I just tried to bring energy and feed off the other players. The performance wasn’t perfect, but a win like that can really build momentum.”
It was a night of resilience and drama, cementing United’s place in the Europa League semi-finals and keeping their hopes alive for silverware this season.
