Agency :
Harry Maguire scored in the dying seconds of extra time to help Manchester United snatch a place in the Europa League semi-finals on Thursday with a sensational 7-6 aggregate victory over Olympique Lyonnais in their quarter-final clash.
A thrilling second leg tie was taken into extra time after United threw away a two-goal lead on the night to be pegged back to 2-2 after 90 minutes, with goals from Rayan Cherki and Alexandre Lacazette putting Lyon on the verge of the semi-finals at a stunned Old Trafford.
However, United made their numerical advantage, given to them after Corentin Tolisso’s late red card in normal time, count. Maguire sent Old Trafford into delirium with his 121st-minute header which sealed a 5-4 victory in the second leg.
It was the hosts who took an early lead, Manuel Ugarte slotting home 10 minutes in after a fine team move, before Diogo Dalot added a second just before the break to double hosts’s lead.
As the minutes ticked on, however, the nerves crept in and two goals in six second-half minutes from Tolisso and Nicolas Tagliafico drew the match, and left the tie level in sensational fashion.
Tolisso’s late sending off swung the momentum back in United’s favour, but Cherki’s fine strike and Lacazzette’s coolly-taken penalty seemingly settled the exhilarating contest.
Fernandes’ spot kick straight down the other end gave home supporters hope of another dramatic finale, before Kobbie Mainoo levelled the tie with what appeared to be the last kick, only for Maguire to have the final say.
United are now the first team in history to score two goals in the 120th minute of a major European match, as they storm into the last four to face Athletic Bilbao.
“I felt like the fourth goal for them was a sucker punch but that we’d get chances to get back into it,” Maguire told TNT Sport. “It fell to myself and thankfully I scored, it was an amazing feeling.
“An incredible game, we made really hard work of it.”
Old Trafford has not been a happy place this season especially in the Premier League. Long-regarded as one of the toughest places in England to visit, seven of United’s 14 league defeats this season have come on their home patch.
Their record in Europe, however, remains much more formidable. Lyon travelled to Manchester looking to register only the second away win at Old Trafford in 30 Europa League encounters.
Nothing could have prepared supporters for a night of drama on this scale, however.
