Manchester United prevailed in a dramatic Thursday night of UEFA Europa League football to advance past Lyon into the semi-finals, while Super Eagles stars Cyriel Dessers and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru were eliminated with their clubs Rangers and Lazio respectively.
Harry Maguire dragged Manchester United through in extraordinary fashion as they scored twice in the final minute of extra-time to complete a staggering comeback from 4-2 down against 10-man Lyon to win 5-4 at Old Trafford and 7-6 on aggregate.
United appeared to be heading out of the competition in the worst possible manner as they tossed away a two-goal lead in the space of seven minutes before conceding twice in extra-time.
Supporters were streaming for the exits in their droves but Bruno Fernandes breathed new life into United when he converted a penalty six minutes from time after a video assistant referee (VAR) intervention for a foul on Casemiro that had initially gone unpunished.
With Old Trafford a cauldron of noise, Kobbie Mainoo somehow kept his cool to curl an equaliser into the corner of the Lyon goal as the tie entered its final minute.
That was extraordinary. But there was no inclination to settle for penalties from the hosts.
In front of legendary former manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who was watching on from the stands, United produced an ending right out of his 1999 Champions League-winning playbook as Casemiro lifted the ball into the penalty area and makeshift centre-forward Harry Maguire rose to send it arcing into the corner.
Cue pandemonium as substitutes, the substituted and anyone else who could get there joined in the celebrations.
It was up there with the most famous games this stadium has ever seen and means Ruben Amorim’s side now face a semi-final with Athletic Bilbao.
In Spain Athletic Bilbao saw off Rangers 2-0, with Nico Williams netting the insurance goal 10 minutes from time.
The Basques progressed to the semi-finals 2-0 on aggregate, with last week’s first leg having finished 0-0.
Centre forward Dessers played all 90 minutes for Rangers, with Nigeria centre-back lasting 50 minutes for the Scots.
Unlike Dessers and Balogun, Dele-Bashiru was an unused substitute for Lazio as they crashed out to Bodo/Glimt, who made history as the first Norwegian club to reach a European semi-final.
Lazio won 3-1 on the night but the tie ended 3-3 on aggregate and went to penalties, which the visitors won 3-2.
In Germany, Dominic Solanke’s first-half penalty kept Tottenham Hotspur’s season alive as they defeated Eintracht Frankfurt 1-0 to reach the semi-finals of the competition.
Tottenham wasted several chances to take control of the tie during a 1-1 draw in the first leg last week, but in Frankfurt Ange Postecoglou’s side spent large spells without the ball and under pressure.
Spurs were awarded a penalty as half-time approached when Frankfurt goalkeeper Kaua Santos mistimed his jump and clattered into James Maddison while attempting to claim a long ball forward.
Maddison’s team-mates were incensed when referee Davide Massa failed to award a spot-kick, though he changed his decision after a video assistant referee (VAR) review and booked Santos.
Solanke stepped up to take the spot-kick – Postecoglou appeared to indicate he wanted the striker to take it – and stroked the ball down the middle as Santos dived to the left.
Though the hosts dominated possession after the break, Tottenham threatened on the counter-attack and from set-pieces.
Cristian Romero headed narrowly wide from a corner just after the hour mark, before Rodrigo Bentancur headed over from a similar situation.
Guglielmo Vicario produced a magnificent save with his legs to keep out Fares Chaibi from close range as Eintracht upped the pressure, before Leeds loanee Rasmus Kristensen dragged wide with the goal gaping following a cut-back.
Tottenham will face either Bodo/Glimt in the final four.
RESULTS
Manchester United 5-4 Lyon (7-6 aggregate)
Athletic Bilbao 2-0 Rangers (2-0 aggregate)
Lazio 3-1 Bodo/Glimt (3-3 aggregate, 2-3 penalties)
Eintracht Frankfurt 0-1 Tottenham (1-2 aggregate)
