Manchester United vs Lyon ended in frustration for the Red Devils as André Onana’s costly mistakes allowed Lyon to grab a last-gasp equaliser in their Europa League quarter-final first leg.
What should have been a smash-and-grab win in France turned into a painful draw, all thanks to two goalkeeping howlers from the under-fire United shot-stopper.
This Manchester United vs Lyon showdown had all the drama, intensity, and talking points that fans crave—but the spotlight will, unfortunately, shine brightest on Onana’s nightmare night between the posts.
First Half: Onana’s Early Error Gifts Lyon the Lead
It all started to unravel in the 25th minute. Lyon’s Thiago Almada floated in what looked like a harmless free-kick, yet Onana misjudged the bounce entirely. Instead of collecting or punching clear, the keeper made a weak attempt to palm it, only to deflect it into his own net.
It was a moment that had many fans and pundits shaking their heads. The timing couldn’t have been worse either—especially after Onana’s midweek war of words with former United midfielder Nemanja Matic, who had labelled the Cameroonian one of the club’s worst-ever goalkeepers.
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Fernandes, Yoro and Zirkzee Try to Salvage It
Despite the early setback, Manchester United managed to find a response before the break. Captain Bruno Fernandes whipped in a dangerous free-kick which Lyon’s keeper Lucas Perri failed to clear properly.
The rebound fell kindly for Manuel Ugarte, who volleyed towards goal, and Leny Yoro was on hand to head in the equaliser. It was a much-needed lift at the stroke of halftime.
The game looked to be heading towards a dramatic conclusion, and Joshua Zirkzee—substituted in for a quiet Rasmus Højlund—thought he had sealed it in the 88th minute.
Rising highest in the box, he met Fernandes’s pinpoint cross with a powerful header to put United 2-1 ahead. At that point, a precious away victory seemed within reach.
Injury-Time Collapse: Onana Strikes Again
But Manchester United vs Lyon had one more cruel twist in store.
Deep into stoppage time, Lyon launched one final attack. Corentin Tolisso fired a shot from the edge of the box, and Onana once again failed to deal with it. Instead of catching or parrying it wide, he pushed the ball straight into the path of Rayan Cherki, who smashed home the equaliser in the dying seconds.
The 2-2 scoreline felt like a defeat for United, who had worked hard to wrestle control of the game and looked destined to take a narrow lead into the second leg at Old Trafford.
Onana Under Fire Again
There’s no denying it—André Onana was at the center of Manchester United’s collapse. His two critical errors not only cost United the win but also gave Lyon the belief they can now pull off a result in the return leg.
To make matters worse, Onana’s ongoing feud with Nemanja Matic only added fuel to the fire. Matic, now playing for Lyon and watching from the bench, had called Onana’s performances into question before the match. The goalkeeper responded with some bragging about his trophy wins—but his display in this game did little to support his case.
Defensive Woes and Tactical Gaps
United didn’t just lose due to goalkeeping errors. Their defense looked vulnerable throughout, with Lyon constantly targeting Diogo Dalot’s side. Georges Mikautadze caused problems with his pace and delivery, while Patrick Dorgu and Garnacho failed to offer consistent support down the flanks.
Amorim’s men sat deep for long spells, deploying six and sometimes seven players across the backline to absorb Lyon’s pressure. But they lacked composure in possession and failed to build from the back effectively. Fernandes tried to spark creativity and control, but without support, it often wasn’t enough.
Can United Recover at Old Trafford?
There’s still everything to play for in the second leg. While Lyon managed a dramatic draw, Manchester United vs Lyon is far from settled. The tie is delicately balanced at 2-2, and with a packed Old Trafford behind them, United will hope to find the resilience to bounce back.
Defender Leny Yoro, who scored United’s first goal, echoed this optimism: “We didn’t lose tonight and we can win at Old Trafford—of course we can. It’s about staying focused.”
But the real question is: Can André Onana recover mentally from this outing and put in the kind of performance that can help United progress?
Manchester United vs Lyon delivered the drama, but not the result United needed. With the second leg approaching, all eyes will be on whether the Red Devils can regroup and whether Onana can redeem himself.
For now, the headlines belong to Lyon’s Rayan Cherki, and to United’s keeper—for all the wrong reasons.
