Manchester United came within seconds of victory when they were held to a 2-2 draw with Olympique Lyonnais.
While the visitors appeared to be headed toward a 2-1 away win, which would have handed them the advantage in their UEFA Europa League quarter-final clash, the hosts found the back of the net literally seconds before the final whistle.
Despite a disappointing end to the game, a high-scoring draw comes as little surprise given that Man United allowed Lyon to get 16 shots on goal.
Still, the performance wasn’t all negative for Man United, with Leny Yoro producing a decent showing that proved how important he is to his team’s success.
Five minutes into first-half stoppage time, Yoro emerged as United’s unlikely hero when he headed home a goal to level the game at 1-1.
This wasn’t his only attacking contribution, however. Yoro got one shot on target, one off target, and another one blocked – an impressive attacking performance for a centre-back.
The young Frenchman was also a crucial link in United’s build-up play. He completed 50 out of 54 passes, obtaining a 93% passing accuracy.
He also emerged as one of United’s more vocal defenders, completing a tackle as well as an interception.
Crucially, he also blocked one of Lyon’s shots, potentially saving United from a narrow loss.
Yoro’s physicality was one area where he slightly underperformed, winning just two of four ground duels.
He also happened to lose possession on six occasions; a statistic he will surely want to improve on going forward.
Although United suffered several defensive mishaps during the Europa League clash, it’s fair to say that Yoro was not a part of their greater defensive problems.
While Ruben Amorim may need to reassess the team he selects for the second leg, Yoro seems to be a safe bet.
(Stats via Sofascore)
Featured image Michael Steele via Getty Images
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Mathew Cohen
A faithful Manchester United supporter, Mathew has worked as a football writer and analyst for SB Nation, FanSided, and now The Peoples Person. Mathew’s heroes include David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Sir Alex Ferguson, all of whom played their part in creating some special childhood memories.
