If you're a Manchester United fan, this one stings a bit. What looked like a hard-fought victory on French soil turned into a night of frustration, with goalkeeper Andre Onana at the center of attention for all the wrong reasons. Two late lapses gifted Lyon a 2-2 draw in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final on Thursday night, leaving the tie delicately balanced heading into the return leg at Old Trafford.
It was a match packed with drama, momentum swings, and moments that will be replayed endlessly—not least because of Onana’s mistakes that ultimately shaped the result.
The Cameroonian shot-stopper was already under scrutiny even before kickoff. A heated war of words with former Red Devils midfielder Nemanja Matic—now donning Lyon colors—made headlines. Matic had bluntly labeled Onana "one of the worst goalkeepers in United’s history" following some bold pre-match comments from the keeper, who claimed United were "way better" than Lyon.
Safe to say, the Lyon fans didn’t forget. Every touch Onana made was met with jeers—and when his first mistake came, they erupted with satisfaction.
United started brightly enough, carving out chances and looking the better team in possession. Danish striker Rasmus Højlund—whose European goal tally (5) dwarfs his Premier League return (3)—missed a golden opportunity early on, scuffing a clear-cut shot wide from Patrick Dorgu’s cut-back.
Despite United's control, Lyon struck first. Thiago Almada’s seemingly harmless free-kick somehow evaded Onana's grasp and nestled into the corner. It was a moment that changed the game's momentum completely.
Just before the halftime whistle, teenage defender Leny Yoro offered United some relief. After Lucas Perri failed to clear Bruno Fernandes’ free-kick properly, Manuel Ugarte recycled possession, and Yoro nodded in his first goal for the club.
The second half saw both sides trading blows. Alexandre Lacazette almost made an instant impact after coming off the bench, while Corentin Tolisso’s effort was comfortably saved by Onana.
Meanwhile, United kept probing. Alejandro Garnacho forced a sharp save from Perri, and Casemiro came close with a powerful header from the resulting corner.
Then came the moment United thought they had snatched the win. Bruno Fernandes whipped in a perfect ball, and Joshua Zirkzee rose high to head home in the 88th minute. The celebrations were wild—but they didn’t last.
In the dying moments of stoppage time, Georges Mikautadze let fly with a low drive. Onana couldn’t hang onto it, and Rayan Cherki was quickest to react, slotting in the rebound to level the tie.
Amorim Defends Onana, Shifts Focus to Old Trafford
Despite the spotlight glaring on Onana, United manager Ruben Amorim refused to throw his goalkeeper under the bus.
“Look, these things happen in football,” Amorim told reporters post-match. “We’ve played a ton of games this season. Mistakes are part of the journey.”
His message was clear: the focus now shifts to the second leg. With United still chasing a return to Champions League football—and Europa League glory their only remaining route—the stakes couldn't be higher.
A failure to lift the trophy could reportedly cost the club upwards of £100 million, a blow they can hardly afford with financial constraints already biting hard.
What makes this matchup even more poignant is how much has changed since these two clubs last met—in the Champions League round of 16 back in 2008. That season, United went on to win their third European title, while Lyon were wrapping up their golden era with a seventh straight Ligue 1 trophy.
Fast forward to 2025, and both sides are trying to find their way back to the summit of European football. This draw might seem like just another game on paper—but for United, it could define their season.
Cherki: “We Deserved More”
Lyon’s Rayan Cherki, who capped off the night’s chaos, had his say post-match:
“Honestly, we played really well. I think we deserved more than a draw. But we’ll go to Manchester aiming to win.”
With the second leg looming, one thing is certain—this tie is far from over.
Key Takeaways:
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Andre Onana's handling errors cost Manchester United dearly in the first leg.
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United must win the Europa League to qualify for next season's Champions League.
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A loss could lead to significant financial losses for the club.
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The second leg at Old Trafford promises high stakes and high drama.