Manchester United grabbed a dramatic winner to beat Rangers 2-1 and gave themselves a tremendous opportunity to qualify automatically for the last 16 of the Europa League.
United started brightly and after just three minutes, Alejandro Garnacho skipped past the Rangers’ right back and unleashed an effort that was easily collected by Jack Butland in the visitors’ goal.
The home side held on to much of the ball but Rangers had their first attack on 9 minutes when Nicolas Raskin ran onto a terrific pass by Hamza Igamane, but his touch was poor and Altay Bayindir was alert to clear the danger.
The Gers came back at United just minutes later and delivered a lovely cross to the back post that Ridvan Yilmaz volleyed directly at Bayindir again, after making space for himself at the back post.
United responded with a couple of corners before Garnacho made space for himself again out left but his shot was wildly fired over.
On 18 minutes, Bruno Fernandes was the next United player to find himself in a dangerous position but he skewed his left-footed shot wide.
Garnacho once again looked a bright spark as he ran at the Rangers defence and after good combination play with Dalot, he fired a shot at goal and it was well deflected by the Rangers’ defence.
From the resulting corner, United had the ball in the back of the net as Matthijs de Ligt powered in a header from close range but it was ruled out as Leny Yoro was harshly judged to have fouled the Gers’ defender in the run up to the goal.
The game drifted a little but came to life in the 36th minute when a beautifully disguised ball by Bruno Fernandes put Amad in one-on-one but he fired right at Butland with his right foot.
The Scottish side came right back however, as Hamza Igamane fired from range, but Bayindir was equal to it as he pushed it around the post for a corner.
United kept the ball well for a bit and Lisandro Martinez stepped up and had a fierce shot that was well saved by the keeper.
The half-time whistle blew with the game still at 0-0 and the away fans would have certainly been happier with their team’s first half display and the home fans cursing another refereeing decision against their team.
Harry Maguire came on for the second half to replace De Ligt as the game got underway once more.
Just two minutes in, Amad combined well with Eriksen and played a dangerous ball across the Rangers’ goal but it was well cleared for a corner.
In a regular theme of the game, Rangers raced up the other end and a cross was met by Bailey Rice who volleyed the ball well over after leaning back.
On 52 minutes, United thought they had finally found the breakthrough as Garnacho played the ball across the goal and Fernandes’ shot was deflected just over the bar.
Just one minute later Amorim’s side finally got their noses in front. A Christian Eriksen corner was incredibly punched into his own net by former United keeper Butland to give Old Trafford the shot in the arm it needed.
On the hour mark Garnacho should have scored United’s second. Great work once again by Amad resulted in a fine ball across the goal that arrived to the Argentinian. He took his time and dug out a shot that flicked the post and went wide.
United should have had another goal when Eriksen whipped in a lovely ball from a free kick out wide and Maguire met the ball with his head in plenty of space but somehow managed to turn the ball wide to let Rangers off the hook once again.
The game slowed down a touch but after 74 minutes, Jefte received the ball outside the penalty area but could only volley right down the throat of a grateful Bayindir.
Moments later, Lisandro Martinez played a nice ball forward and Amad showed strength to bounce off the last man but fired his shot over with his weaker right foot.
Manuel Ugarte almost grabbed his first ever goal for the Red Devils when he headed on a Fernandes free kick but it was well saved by Butland.
United’s fans’ hearts were in their mouths when Cyriel Dessers was played in by Rice and he lifted the ball over Bayindir but hit clipped the base of the post. The goal would probably have been ruled out for offside anyway but it certainly was a warning that the game was not yet won with less than 10 minutes remaining.
Amorim’s side refused to learn their lesson however as Maguire misjudged a long ball and Dessers showed wonderful composure to control the ball on the turn and fired into the bottom corner to give Bayindir no chance.
Five minutes were added on and Old Trafford once again saw a late late goal on a European night as despair turned to joy.
Martinez played a wonderful cross into the box and Fernandes volleyed the ball expertly home in front of a jubliant Stretford End.
The full time whistle blew and an ecstatic home crowd celebrated a hard-fought victory which should see the home side into the last 16 of the Europa League.
Starting XI: Bayindir, Amad, De Ligt, Martinez, Yoro, Dalot, Eriksen, Collyer, Fernandes, Garnacho, Zirkzee
Subs: Maguire, Malacia, Mainoo, Ugarte, Hojlund
Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images
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Alex Browne
Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Proud owner of such niche shirts such as Kleberson, Eric Djemba-Djemba and Gary Neville. Grew up pretending to be Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the back garden, with little success.
