Manchester United Turn Disaster Into “Remontada”

MANCHESTER, FRIDAY - It would not be Manchester United if they chose the easy path to victory. From leading, falling behind, to turning the game around in the final minutes, the team coached by Ruben Amorim experienced it all at Old Trafford Stadium. From the stadium nicknamed the "Theatre of Dreams," one of the most magical nights in the club's history was created.

The Remontadathat Real Madrid has been talking about for the past week did not happen at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, when they faced Arsenal in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals. A day later, Friday (18/4/2025) early morning WIB, the Spanish term meaning to turn things around was actually realized by MU.

Old Trafford almost witnessed a comeback from visiting team Olympique Lyon. However, MU managed to turn the situation around from 2-4 behind with three goals in seven minutes at the end of the second half of extra time. The home team qualified for the Europa League semifinals thanks to a 5-4 victory and a 7-6 aggregate win.

"It was a great game for sure," said United defender Harry Maguire, who scored the winner in injury time (120+1). "We worked really hard for it. We were in total control in the second half, but they just came out of nowhere and scored two goals," he added.

The victory of MU feels so magical because it came unexpectedly, at a time when momentum had shifted and the players' morale was shattered. This emotional seesaw is reflected in the expressions of the fans. They smiled during the halftime break, felt anxious as the match entered extra time, and were engulfed in euphoria after the final whistle.

I feel sorry for the people who had already left the stadium when we were 2-4 down.

Amorim smiled widely, perhaps the widest he has smiled during his six months working for the "Red Devils." "The noise in this stadium is the best I have ever felt. This is the best sound in the world. I feel sorry for those who left the stadium when we were trailing 2-4," he said.

MU initially led 2-0 in the first half. Then, suddenly they lost concentration and conceded two goals. The match continued into extra time. Lyon, playing with 10 men due to the second yellow card issued to Corentin Tolisso in the 89th minute, managed to take the lead again with a score of 4-2 through goals from Rayan Cherki and Alexandre Lacazette.

A small child was seen crying in the stands as despair began to set in with only a few minutes left in the extended time. Suddenly, MU rallied with three consecutive goals from Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo, and Maguire. A penalty goal from Fernandes, which changed the score to 3-4, successfully reversed the momentum in favor of the home team.

Former United midfielder Paul Scholes said it only takes one small moment at Old Trafford to change everything. He recalled United's comeback against Liverpool in the FA Cup in 1999. At that time, Scholes and his colleagues turned the score 2-1 with a pair of goals in the last minute of normal time. "A lot of special things happen here, it only takes one (goal) and you have another chance," he said on TNT Sports.

Praise is due to Amorim. The coach took a risk in the last ten minutes. He moved Maguire from a defensive position to that of a forward. The physical presence of the 194-centimeter tall defender successfully intimidated the opposing defenders. Lyon began to panic when the ball entered the penalty area.

MU midfielder Casemiro also deserves recognition. He shifted from a defensive to an offensive mode towards the end of the match. As a result, he was fouled in the penalty area, leading to MU's third goal. After that, Casemiro contributed two assists for the goals scored by Mainoo and Maguire. The "Red Devils" seem to have gained a new creative player.

Goalkeeper Andre Onana returned to the goal for MU after making two blunders in the first match. He was temporarily rested by Amorim during the English Premier League match last weekend. The coach wanted his player to return to the field in the best psychological condition.

Amorim's decision was correct. Onana played quite well despite conceding four goals. All of Lyon's goals were caused by errors in Amorim's strategic approach and concentration issues in MU's defense. The hosts did not face significant difficulties during the first half and were able to dominate the match.

New problems arose after the drinks break. Amorim adopted a more defensive strategy. MU more frequently defended with a low block, rather than pressing high as they did at the beginning of the match. As a result, Lyon began to comfortably exploit the final third of the field.

Lyon was able to equalize within a span of just seven minutes, at the 71st and 78th minutes. Manchester United, who had the numerical advantage, continued to press aggressively during extra time. However, the hosts were punished through a counterattack. The counter resulted in the third goal from Cherki and the fourth goal, which was initiated by a foul in the penalty area.

According to Amorim, the mistake was indeed fatal and should not have occurred. Conceding four consecutive goals, including after having a numerical advantage, must be addressed. "We know we performed below standard and deserve criticism, but we still have time to create something special this season," he concluded.

The Lyon squad was also taken by surprise that the opposing team could make a comeback. Lacazette briefly ran to his team's bench after scoring a penalty goal. He celebrated the goal exuberantly with the players and coaching staff. They seemed to feel that a two-goal lead with ten minutes remaining was sufficient for victory.

Lyon's head coach Paulo Fonseca stated that the celebration was one of the reasons for his team's defeat. "We celebrated the victory when we should have been thinking about game management. We lacked experience in that moment. After the penalty for MU and with the score being just one goal apart, we were unable to withstand their pressure from crosses," he said.

MU will face the Spanish representative Athletic Bilbao in the semifinals. Although they struggled to advance, the "Red Devils" have managed to continue this season with hope. The Europa League is MU's last hope for achievement. It is also the only opportunity that can allow them to compete in Europe next season. (AP/REUTERS)