Andre Onana had a nightmare day when he cost Man Utd a victory against Lyon in the final minutes. Witnessing his student’s poor performance, coach Ruben Amorim made a surprising statement

The hallowed turf of the Groupama Stadium in Lyon bore witness to a captivating yet ultimately frustrating encounter for Manchester United as their Europa League quarter-final first leg against the French side concluded in a 2-2 stalemate. This result, while offering a slender advantage to the Red Devils heading back to Old Trafford for the return fixture, was heavily tainted by a series of calamitous errors from their summer signing, goalkeeper Andre Onana. The Cameroonian shot-stopper, who had audaciously asserted in the pre-match press conference that Manchester United possessed superior quality compared to their Ligue 1 adversaries, found himself at the epicenter of the drama for all the wrong reasons.

The narrative of the match will undoubtedly be dominated by Onana’s lapses in concentration and judgment, as he was directly culpable for both of Lyon’s equalizing goals. These errors not only denied Manchester United a potentially crucial away victory but also amplified the already intense scrutiny surrounding his performances since his arrival at the club. The weight of expectation, coupled with the pressure of representing one of the world’s most prestigious football clubs, appeared to manifest in a performance that Onana himself will be eager to consign to the annals of forgotten memories.

The first instance of Onana’s misfortune arrived midway through the opening half, casting a shadow over what had been a relatively composed start for the visitors. A free-kick awarded to Lyon on the left flank was delivered with precision by Thiago Almada, arcing into the Manchester United penalty area. Onana, seemingly anticipating a touch from one of his teammates to divert the ball’s trajectory, remained rooted to his spot. To his dismay, and the collective gasp of the travelling supporters, the ball evaded everyone and bounced untouched inside his near post, nestling into the back of the net. This unfortunate incident bore an uncanny resemblance to a similar goal conceded earlier in the season against Ipswich Town, raising concerns about a recurring vulnerability in Onana’s game.

Adding to the growing unease surrounding his goalkeeping prowess, statistics have emerged highlighting a worrying trend. No other goalkeeper currently plying their trade in the English Premier League has committed more errors leading directly to opposition goals across all competitions this season than Andre Onana. This stark reality underscores the challenges he has faced in adapting to the rigors of English football and the immense pressure that comes with guarding the Manchester United goal.

Despite the early setback inflicted by Onana’s blunder, the Manchester United side under the guidance of Ruben Amorim demonstrated commendable resilience and a fighting spirit that has become a hallmark of their recent performances. Trailing by a single goal, they rallied and found an equalizer before the interval, providing a glimmer of hope and restoring parity to the scoreline. The goal came courtesy of defender Leny Yoro, who was making his return to his native France for this crucial Europa League encounter. Yoro marked his homecoming in spectacular fashion, scoring his first goal for Manchester United.

The equalizer originated from a Bruno Fernandes free-kick, which was expertly struck but parried away by the Lyon goalkeeper, Lucas Perri. However, the danger was not fully averted, as Manuel Ugarte reacted quickest to head the loose ball back into the danger zone. Yoro, positioned astutely inside the penalty area, rose highest to meet the looping ball, directing a glancing header past the outstretched arms of Perri and into the net. The celebrations among the Manchester United players and staff were palpable, signifying the importance of leveling the score before the halftime whistle.

As the second half unfolded, the tension within the Groupama Stadium intensified, with both teams vying for the upper hand in this finely balanced quarter-final tie. Lyon continued to pose a significant threat to the Manchester United defense, particularly through the lively forward Georges Mikautadze. The Georgian international proved to be a constant menace, his pace and trickery causing problems for the United backline.

Manchester United, however, also created opportunities of their own, with substitute Joshua Zirkzee injecting fresh impetus into their attacking endeavors after replacing Rasmus Hojlund. In the 88th minute, with the game seemingly heading for a draw, Zirkzee appeared to have snatched a dramatic late winner for the visitors. The young forward rose impeccably to meet a pinpoint cross from Bruno Fernandes, his header finding the back of the net and sending the travelling Manchester United supporters into raptures.

But the drama was far from over. Lyon, demonstrating their own resilience and refusal to succumb to defeat on their home ground, pressed forward with renewed vigor in the dying moments of added time. Their persistence was ultimately rewarded, albeit in controversial circumstances from a Manchester United perspective.

In the fifth minute of added time, Mikautadze unleashed a shot towards the Manchester United goal. Onana managed to get a hand to the ball, but crucially, he failed to secure a firm hold, parrying it back into a dangerous area inside his own penalty box. The lurking Rayan Cherki, a bright prospect for Lyon, reacted swiftly to the spilled save. With composure and precision, Cherki dinked a clever finish over the outstretched body of Onana, the ball nestling into the net to snatch a dramatic and heartbreaking equalizer for the home side with virtually the last kick of the game.

The disappointment among the Manchester United players and coaching staff was palpable. The elation of Zirkzee’s late goal had been cruelly snatched away in the most agonizing fashion. This late concession marked the latest goal Manchester United have ever conceded in the history of the Europa League competition, further compounding the sense of frustration and missed opportunity.

Speaking after the emotionally charged encounter, Manchester United defender Leny Yoro expressed the team’s collective disappointment at conceding the late equalizer. However, he also maintained a sense of optimism regarding their chances in the return leg at Old Trafford. “It is hard to concede a goal like that, but we will go with the draw and try to win the game at home,” Yoro stated, acknowledging the setback but emphasizing the importance of securing a victory on their own turf. “If you get the 2-1 win, we are more confident but conceding the goal is difficult. We didn’t lose so we can win at Old Trafford.”

The pre-match build-up to this quarter-final clash had been significantly influenced by a public spat between Andre Onana and former Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic. Onana’s bold assertion that Manchester United were a superior team to Lyon, coupled with his pointed reference to his own trophy win with the club in contrast to Matic’s trophyless tenure, had added an extra layer of intrigue and tension to the encounter. While Onana did exhibit moments of composure with the ball at his feet, often venturing out of his penalty area amidst jeers from the Lyon supporters, his confidence appeared to waver significantly when faced with the fundamental task of keeping the ball out of the net.

Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes, who was providing commentary on the game, did not hold back in his assessment of Onana’s costly errors. “He is probably wishing he kept his mouth shut, it’s a really bad mistake,” Scholes remarked candidly, reflecting the general sentiment of disbelief at the goalkeeper’s blunders. “I’m not sure what the keeper is trying to do, the ball bounces right in front of him – it’s an awful mistake.” Scholes’s blunt assessment underscored the severity of Onana’s errors and the impact they had on the final outcome of the match.

Despite the disappointing nature of the late equalizer, Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim adopted a pragmatic approach in his post-match assessment, acknowledging the significance of securing an away draw in a European quarter-final. “We are really disappointed,” Amorim conceded, reflecting the frustration within the United camp. “We should have taken the one-goal advantage but the next game is at home and we will try and win it.” His words conveyed a sense of disappointment but also a determination to rectify the mistakes made in the first leg and secure their passage to the Europa League semi-finals in front of their home supporters.

Ultimately, while the 2-2 draw in Lyon was not the emphatic victory that Andre Onana’s pre-match pronouncements might have suggested, it still leaves Manchester United with a slender advantage heading into the decisive second leg at Old Trafford. However, the glaring errors at the back, particularly those committed by their goalkeeper, will undoubtedly be a major cause for concern for Amorim and his coaching staff as they prepare for the return fixture. The tie remains delicately poised, and Lyon have emphatically demonstrated that they possess the quality and determination to cause Manchester United further problems on their home turf, setting the stage for a potentially thrilling and nerve-wracking second leg in Manchester.