#old trafford

the ultimate lucky charm!

Well. That happened.

I'm still in shock. I felt violently nauseous after the final whistle from the emotional rollercoaster and associated whiplash of that game.

United took an early lead in the tie after 10 minutes, with a great bit of quick play and movement leading to an easy gap and sidefoot finish for Manuel Ugarte - one of those goals that anybody could finish but that United have not been creating this season. Promising.

The Red Devils would continue to dominate possession and dictate the game before finally breaking through with their second goal in first half stoppage time, with a beautiful diagonal long ball from Harry Maguire finding Diogo Dalot who successfully held off the Lyon defender, balanced himself, took a touch, and bam, a low acute finish off the inside of the far post. Sublime. Your sins are forgiven for another week, Diogo.

At this point, United are in full control. FULL control. 4-2 on aggregate, 2-0 up at home, Lyon look toothless.

We come out for the second half. We continue where we left off. Alejandro Garnacho is released with a long ball from the depths of United's half. It's a race, he's onside, he's edging ahead... he cuts back and sells the defender out. It's 1v1 with the keeper but a whole acre of net behind him to curl a shot into.

He shoots near post and a point blank save is made. ARE YOU KIDDING ME.

This was the turning point, because we failed to put Lyon to the sword when our own confidence is so shaky this season.

Lyon got one back in the 71st minute through Tolisso, with a 1-2-3 sequence of headers evading Dorgu, Maguire and Yoro to root Onana to his spot and get the French side back in the tie. Maguire even ducked the ball as it came at him, which was so poor to see.

One goal became two, and Lyon levelled the match and the tie with a goal just six minutes later from Tagliafico: Dalot failing to stop or block the initial cross, Dorgu abysmal at blocking the ball towards him or noticing the player he's meant to be marking, and Yoro caught half a yard out from where he needed to be to stop Tagliafico scoring.

I will say - Yoro played very well tonight, but the fact there are 2 goals and 2 errors... it's not just a him problem, but with more experience he'll be good enough (like a Bruno) to undo the damage caused by lesser players (Dalot etc) making silly mistakes. Quality can buy you grace, and with time this kid will show his more and more and more.

Leny actually had a John Terry moment (no, not racism). A slip on the grass took him down from blocking a shot, so the young Frenchman threw his body forward and blocked it with his head/face. Heroic. That's bravery. Blood and thunder stuff. Dying for the game.

There was what we thought was a momentary reprieve with a second yellow card for Corentin Tolisso, but Lyon looked entirely unfazed by the drop to 10-men, and United looked goosed. Utterly exhausted. We failed to capitalise on the advantage before full time, so into extra time we go...

It's at this point that we fucked up again.

Rayan Cherki, the magic footed forward, finally got his reward and a goal in the tie. 2-3, advantage Lyon, Old Trafford stunned into silence.

It then got worse.

Yoro, trying to tackle, gets interceded by Luke Shaw who makes too much player contact in the box and down the man goes. Penalty to Lyon.

It was a good penalty and a goal for Lacazette. At this point we're done for. An Arsenal reject just knocked us out with 10 men. It's shameful. Banter FC's banter decade just entered a new level of banter that might be X rated.

What had been a generally good performance from people across the pitch (Dorgu overlapping, Hojlund's hold-up play and final third passing, Ugarte's shuttling in CM) just all fell apart. Maybe it was the fatigue, but it felt more like the mental state. The fragility of our own self-doubt manifesting.

Luckily, Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes exist. Mentality monsters. A foul in the box on the Brazilian earned a 114th minute penalty for the captain to bury. Game back on?

Fucking right game back on. Sir Kobbie Mainoo, super sub back from injury, is played in that advanced role that didn't work versus Crystal Palace. Well, it fucking worked here.

Best goal of the night from the kid, a stunning right foot curling effort from the inside left of the box. Top strike from a false striker, but they all count, and this one was MONUMENTAL.

Now Old Trafford's awake. It's happening. We can will it to happen. Our energy can transfer to them and manifest the shithouse comeback of all shithouse comebacks.

Well, we did it. An 11/10 lofted pass from Casemiro into the box, over the defender, and onto the head of Harry Maguire who had all the time in the world with the measured pace of the ball to frame his body right, lose the defender, and nod it across goal past the keeper. I give him a lot of shit, Slabhead, but fuck me he has his moments of genuine class. This was one of them. Peak United, elite composure, the stuff legends are made of.

This game had everything for the neutral. 1-0, 2-0, 2-1, red card, 2-2, extra time, 2-3, 2-4, 3-4 penalty, 4-4, 5-4. And a tifo. And flares. Fair play to Lyon for making it a spectacle with us, and for their fans for giving it 100% from the away end.

For the home fans though... I think we all need a cold shower and a lie down. It was exhausting. Players outperforming their usual selves this season only to revert back to it later on. Hope turning to despair turning to anger turning to hope turning to elation.

It's hard work being a United fan.

Next up in the Europa League are Bilbao; away on May 1st, and home on May 8th.

In the league though it's a home tie against Wolves on Sunday at 2pm. I shall be there. PLEASE can we have a quiet win 😅