After an amazing comeback victory, Manchester United qualified for the Europa League semifinals after defeating Lyon 5–4. After falling behind 4-2 in the final minute, goals from Maguire and Rashford gave a historic evening at Old Trafford, giving fans hope.
Old Trafford saw another night to remember as Manchester United, battered at home and on the verge of yet another season of underachievement, discovered magic under the floodlights to seal a breathtaking 5-4 turnaround against Lyon and secure their passage into the Europa League semifinals.
Together, who entered the tie under duress and were sitting uncomfortably low in the Premier League table, reminded the world why they remain one of football’s greatest clubs. In a game heavy with emotion, grit, and drama, they fought back from a 4-2 shortfall in extra time against 10-man Lyon to win it at the last gasp with a header from none other than Harry Maguire.
“We still have time to make something special of this season, so we have to think like that and be positive,” United head coach Ruben Amorim said.
A dream start saw United go up 2-0 by halftime thanks to goals from Manuel Ugarte and Diogo Dalot. Bruno Fernandes hit the bar, and Alejandro Garnacho missed a one-on-one that could’ve made it three. But Lyon wasn’t going down without a fight.
In just six minutes after the break, Lyon hit back with goals from Corentin Tolisso and Nicolas Tagliafico, stunning the Old Trafford crowd and shifting momentum.
United’s situation worsened as the match dragged into extra time, and Lyon, down to 10 men after Tolisso’s red card, still managed to go 4-2 ahead through Rayan Cherki and an Alexandre Lacazette penalty.
Just when it seemed like the lights were fading on United’s European aspiration, the team came alive. Fernandes converted a penalty coolly, followed by a spectacular curling shot from youngster Kobbie Mainoo to make the score 4-4.
And then came the moment that will be replayed for years to come—Harry Maguire, having been sent upfield as an injured striker, sprang over defenders to head home the winner deep into extra time. Old Trafford exploded.
“It was fun,” said Amorim. “If you see the goals from Kobbie and Harry Maguire, the sound of the stadium was the best sound I ever (heard). You want to keep that. People want to keep a lot of things, shirts, I just want to keep that sound, it’s the best sound in the world.”
The semifinals match up United with Spanish competition Athletic Bilbao after Bilbao defeated Rangers by a 2-0 score.
The European competition continued for Tottenham Hotspur after they won 1-0 against Eintracht Frankfurt while advancing 2-1 on aggregate. Dominic Solanke secured the game with a penalty awarded by VAR during the first half. Bodo/Glimt earned a European semifinal berth as the first Norwegian team after beating Lazio in a penalty shootout.
The Conference League pushed Real Betis and Fiorentina as well as Chelsea and Djurgarden into its semifinals, while Chelsea received Djurgarden as their next opponent.
But everyone’s attention was on Manchester. On an evening when nobody believed, United showed the world of football what fighting spirit looks like. Whether or not they win the Europa League trophy, this game shall go down in history as one of the finest European comebacks—and a beacon of light in a season that needed it so badly.
