Manchester United needed to accept a 2-2 draw at Lyon after conceding a late equaliser.
When Lyon scored their opening objective, Manchester United followers feared ‘a type of’ European implosions, much like the 3-0 away loss towards Sevilla in 2023.
Ruben Amorim’s aspect have been way more resilient, equalising earlier than half-time by means of Leny Yoro after which substitute Joshua Zirkzee scoring a late objective – which appeared destined to be a winner.
It was to not be, with Rayan Cherki making it 2-2 after a shot was spilled, and it’s all to play for at Outdated Trafford within the second leg.
Because the mud settles on the attract France, we took a take a look at the winners and losers from the competition…
Winners
We picked out 5 winners representing the Purple Devils…
Leny Yoro: It was a comparatively completely happy return to France for Leny Yoro regardless of Manchester United conceding the late equaliser.
Yoro headed in an equaliser simply earlier than half-time, scoring his first ever objective for Manchester United. It was an indication he’s rising into his position with the Purple Devils.
A good better signal of Yoro’s rising confidence got here with a galloping run and shot within the second half. It’s straightforward to overlook he’s solely 19, a fantastic prospect.
Joshua Zirkzee: The unluckiest man on the pitch, Joshua Zirkzee thought he had headed in a winner for Manchester United along with his 88th minute header.
This was Zirkzee’s first objective for the reason that strike away at Actual Sociedad, and this objective was just a little tougher, along with his header completely executed.
United have struggled to get objectives out of the forwards, however Zirkzee is the livelier choice proper now, who made the a lot of the probability he had.
Bruno Fernandes: Manchester United’s captain produced his seventeenth help of the season to arrange Zirkzee with an exquisite lofted go into the field.
Fernandes simply retains going, and United will want extra heroics from the captain within the second leg to be able to progress.
Kobbie Mainoo: It was a pleasure to see Kobbie Mainoo again on the pitch to make his first look since getting back from damage.
Mainoo appeared good. He was bodily, and measured in his play, and his substitution coincided with Manchester United’s improved assault, resulting in Zirkzee’s objective.
Mason Mount: One other substitute, Mason Mount continues to rack up minutes and he’s now as much as three appearances since his return. A begin might be so as quickly, presumably this weekend.
Mount shortly bought caught in and fought for United’s trigger. We might nonetheless prefer to see him get on the ball extra, and present some high quality in possession, however this was yet one more step in the proper route for the injury-plagued midfielder.
Losers
Sadly there have been three losers to emerge…
Andre Onana: Andre Onana set the tone for a catastrophe class with pre-match feedback that supplied Lyon with further motivation and a disagreement with Nemanja Matic.
Onana wanted to have an enormous efficiency, and failed. He let in a tender free-kick throughout his objective, and simply when United appeared to have bailed him out, he dropped one other clanger in stoppage time.
The goalkeeper spilled an effort into the grateful path of Rayan Cherki for a tap-in, to tie the sport at 2-2.
Rasmus Hojlund: Whereas Andre Onana was dangerous, Rasmus Hojlund was arguably worse. The Danish striker put in a ineffective efficiency up entrance, and was fortunate to not be hooked at half-time.
Hojlund fluffed a point-blank probability within the first half when the sport was goalless, scuffing his shot and failing to even take a look at the goalkeeper. These are the moments you want your quantity 9 to provide, and he was merely not ok,.
Alejandro Garnacho: One other participant low on objective menace, Alejandro Garnacho should enhance, and he won’t be capable of in Ruben Amorim’s system.
Garnacho was largely nameless aside from a counter-attack within the second half when he delayed his go, after which selected the improper choice, losing the chance. He might be on the bench for the second leg, and will have little argument.