Onana’s Errors Cost Man Utd as Lyon Hold Them for 2-2 Draw in Europa League
Manchester United’s hopes of winning the Europa League were dealt a significant blow on Thursday as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Lyon in the first leg of their quarter-final tie. The Red Devils will be left wondering what might have been had it not been for the errors of their goalkeeper, Andre Onana.
Onana’s mistakes proved costly as Lyon snatched a dramatic draw in the 95th minute, thanks to a stoppage-time strike from Ryan Cherki. The result has set up a thrilling second leg, with the tie hanging in the balance.
The match got off to a frantic start, with both teams creating chances in the opening exchanges. However, it was Lyon who took the lead in the 25th minute, thanks to a mistake from Onana. The Dutch goalkeeper misjudged a strike from Thiago Almada, allowing the Lyon player to find the back of the net with ease.
Manchester United struggled to find their rhythm in the first half, with their usually clinical attack misfiring. They did, however, create a few chances, with Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford both going close. But Lyon’s lead was deserved, and they were the better team for much of the first half.
The Red Devils did start to gain a foothold in the game after the break, with Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire both going close. But just as it seemed like United were about to equalize, Onana made another costly mistake.
In the 95th minute, with the game seemingly headed for a 1-0 defeat, Onana failed to collect a cross and Cherki was left with a simple finish to level the scores. The drama was almost too much to take, and it’s hard to imagine a more dramatic finish to a Europa League match.
Despite the errors, Manchester United will still feel confident about their chances of progressing to the semi-finals. They have a strong squad and a wealth of experience, and they should be able to overcome the mistakes of their goalkeeper.
However, the mistakes of Onana will have given Lyon a huge boost, and the French team will be looking to build on this result in the second leg. They have a talented squad, with players like Almada and Cherki capable of causing problems for even the best defenses.
The second leg is set to be a thrilling encounter, with both teams knowing that a win could take them to the semi-finals. Manchester United will be looking to put their mistakes behind them and make a strong start to the second leg, while Lyon will be looking to build on their momentum and cause an upset.
In the end, the result will come down to which team can make the fewest mistakes. If Manchester United can eliminate the errors of Onana, they should have too much for Lyon. But if the goalkeeper continues to make mistakes, the French team could cause a major upset.
Ultimately, the tie is finely balanced, and it’s hard to predict which team will come out on top. But one thing is certain – this is a Europa League tie that will be remembered for a long time, and it’s set to be a thrilling conclusion.
