Harry Maguire got here off the bench to rescue Manchester United, and beleaguered supervisor Erik ten Hag, by grabbing a last-gasp equaliser in a pulsating 3-3 draw at Porto.
The England defender headed house in stoppage time to grab a degree for the guests, who appeared as if they had been heading for an additional defeat after Porto hit again from 2-0 down to steer 3-2.
On a chaotic night, captain Bruno Fernandes was sent-off for the second time in 5 days – though his pink card in opposition to Tottenham on the weekend was later rescinded on attraction – as United’s weak underbelly was once more uncovered earlier than Maguire’s late heroics.
A TOWERING HEADER! 💥
Harry Maguire scores a vital equaliser for 10-man Man United 👏
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/WRkrSZEpT4
— Soccer on TNT Sports activities (@footballontnt) October 3, 2024
A vivid begin
And but it began so nicely for the guests when Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund scored inside the opening 20 minutes.
Disaster, what disaster?
They couldn’t maintain on, although, because the defensive frailties which have turn out to be an indicator of Ten Hag’s tenure once more got here again to chew them.
Pepe pulled one again and Samu Omorodion scored twice as United shipped three objectives once more. Certainly, since Ten Hag joined the membership, no Premier League staff has conceded three or extra objectives in a match extra occasions in all competitions than Manchester United’s 24.
Fernandes’ reckless second yellow card with 9 minutes to go appeared to compound a depressing evening, with Rashford’s withdrawal at half-time additionally indicating the winger might have sustained an harm.
Bruno Fernandes is SENT OFF! 🟥
The Man United captain is proven a second yellow for harmful play 😬
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/0Y9fkgrgTZ
— Soccer on TNT Sports activities (@footballontnt) October 3, 2024
However Maguire rose highest to fulfill Christian Eriksen’s inviting nook to provide Ten Hag a component of respiration area earlier than their subsequent check, a tough journey to Aston Villa on Sunday.
Promising indicators from Rashford
Regardless of a wobbly begin which noticed Andre Onana produce a second-minute save from Galeno, United snatched the lead by way of Rashford.
The winger lower in from the left, danced by way of a few weak challenges earlier than firing in a shot which crept underneath Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa at his close to publish.
United nonetheless appeared fragile on the again however they supplied a menace each time they went ahead and Hojlund got here near including a second however narrowly didn’t convert Rashford’s teasing cross.
The pair mixed once more after 20 minutes and this time it did end in a second purpose for the guests.
Eriksen’s driving run created area for Rashford, he slipped it inside for Hojlund, and the Denmark striker’s shot was once more an excessive amount of for Costa to deal with at his close to publish.
Costa partially redeemed himself with a high quality, if unconventional, save to disclaim Rashford three minutes later.
Regardless of their two-goal lead, United’s vulnerability meant the sport was nonetheless finely poised with the following purpose essential.
Pepe strikes
And it went to the house aspect after 28 minutes. Onana produced a high quality save to maintain out Samu’s preliminary header however he may do little as Pepe reacted first to nod to the ball house.
The 20-year-old Samu was inflicting United all types of issues along with his tempo and energy and he displayed all his bodily attributes to seize the equaliser after 34 minutes, shrugging off the eye of Matthijs De Ligt to get on the tip of Joao Mario’s cross and head previous Onana.
Casemiro noticed a close-range shot blocked by Costa as United got here once more whereas Rashford must have made it 3-2 on the stroke of half-time however delayed his shot and the possibility was misplaced.
Onana was the one man in United’s defensive unit that was distinguishing himself and the previous Inter goalkeeper produced one other terrific save to tip Francisco Moura’s effort around the publish.
It was to show a momentary respite for the beleagured guests as, from their subsequent assault, Porto went in entrance for the primary time.
Pepe outpaced Lisandro Martinez down the correct and his low cross picked out Samu, whose dart to the close to publish forward of De Ligt was adopted by an emphatic end into the roof of the online.
WOW 🤯
Samu Omorodion scores his second of the evening and offers Porto the lead!
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/Kr041pTsHr
— Soccer on TNT Sports activities (@footballontnt) October 3, 2024
Unbelievable end as the ten males salvage a draw
To their credit score, United rallied with Fernandes capturing huge, Garnacho testing Costa from long-range and Martinez firing over.
With 13 minutes to go, and United needing a purpose, Ten Hag opted to modify his central defenders with Maguire and Jonny Evans approaching for De Ligt and Martinez.
It smacked of a scrambled thoughts, and the identical accusation could possibly be levelled at Fernandes. Having picked up a yellow card within the first half for a excessive boot, he lunged in wildly when making an attempt to fulfill a left-wing cross and made contact with Nereus Perez’s head.
Galeno must have completed the ten males off however shot weakly at Onana when clear by way of, and it proved a pricey miss as Maguire salvaged what could possibly be a vital level for United.
