Manchester United came back from a goal down against Olympique Lyonnais to take the lead in the closing stages of the game, only to throw it away with the last kick of the game as the first leg of the Europa League quarter-final tie ended 2-2 on Thursday.
United equalised right at the stroke of half-time through Leny Yoro, who got his first goal for the club. Substitute Joshua Zirkzee scored United’s second on the night.
Ruben Amorim must have been delighted given the team’s overall performance but Andre Onana let the club down on two occasions, both of which led to Lyon’s goals.
The first was from an indirect free-kick which he should have parried with ease but ended up missing completely as it went in.
Onana shocker again
The injury time equaliser from Rayan Cherki came from a shot that was straight at the Cameroonian but he inexplicably parried and Cherki made no mistake.
After creating headlines with his trash talk with Nemanja Matic, who had called him the worst United goalkeeper in recent history, in the build-up to the game, fans would have expected to see fire in Onana’s belly.
Instead the ex-Ajax ace proved the former United defensive midfield right, with two huge errors in each half to change the complexion of the tie.
Given Rasmus Hojlund endured another miserable night while his replacement Zirkzee got on the scoresheet, Amorim’s thoughts must have wandered off to the summer window during which he will likely ask for a ruthless goalscorer to replace the Dane.
But Onana’s form has meant INEOS must also look at the goalkeeping position and try and move the Cameroon international on and bring in someone with more quality.
Hojlund dismal as well
The 20-time English league champions could have started the return leg at Old Trafford with a one goal advantage, but now they will have to start from scratch next week.
As for Amorim, he must be brave and remove both Onana and Hojlund from the starting line-up from the next game against Newcastle. Zirkzee has shown he is ready while Chido Obi cannot do any worse than the 22-year-old Denmark international.
With both Altay Bayindir and Tom Heaton injured, the boss was forced to start Onana. But the Turkish international is back and he should be given a chance now.
Both simply do not have the quality to start for the Red Devils and they have cost the club big time this season. The sooner Amorim takes a brutal call, the better.
Feature image Michael Steele via Getty Images
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Ayantan Chowdhury
Ayantan has worked for 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites but his heart was always set on writing about his favourite club. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25
