Manchester United 5-4 Lyon (agg: 7-6): Harry Maguire scores winner in extra-time thriller

The first nine-goal game in Europa League history saw Manchester United let a two-goal lead slip, as ten-man Lyon came from behind to lead 4-2; but late goals in extra time from Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire sealed a memorable 5-4 victory (7-6 on aggregate) for the hosts, who will face Athletic Club in the Europa League semi-finals.

Match in brief: Man Utd win after extra-time drama

Harry Maguire celebrates after scoring a last-gasp winner for Manchester United.Getty Images

The hosts started on the front foot and took the lead after ten minutes, when Alejandro Garnacho cut back to Manuel Ugarte inside the Lyon box and the Uruguayan midfielder sent a shot flying past visiting goalkeeper Lucas Perri.

United almost doubled their lead on 36 minutes, the crossbar denying what would have been a spectacular volleyed goal from Bruno Fernandes, but a second goal did come for the hosts just before half-time, Harry Maguire sending a long ball forward for Diogo Dalot to control and shoot low into the far corner.

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes celebrates AFP via Getty Images

Both goalkeepers made important saves early in the second half, Perri to deny Garnacho on the run and André Onana to keep out Corentin Tolisso's bouncing shot from close range.

Lyon began their rousing comeback with just under 20 minutes remaining, a series of headers inside the United box allowing Tolisso to nod in. The French side then found an equaliser eight minutes later; substitute Malick Fofana sending a cross in which worked its way to Nicolás Tagliafico with Onana unable to prevent the ball from crossing the line.

Despite losing Tolisso to a second yellow card on 89 minutes, Lyon took the lead at the end of the first period of extra time as Cherki pounced on an intercepted ball following Fofana's run and produced a quick, accurate finish.

Alexandre Lacazatte then added a fourth from the penalty spot only for Fernandes to quickly restore United hopes with a spot kick of his own. In the 120th minute Kobbie Mainoo equalised with a curling strike but incredibly there was still time for Maguire, who had moved into a centre-forward role, to head an incredible winner to seal a thrilling win for United on an unforgettable night at Old Trafford.

Steve Bates, reporting from Old Trafford

A game that will surely go down as one of the greatest in the history of the Europa League ends with United marching into the semi-finals to face Athletic Club. The drama just kept coming in a nine-goal thriller that electrified Old Trafford from start to rousing finish. The hero at the end of 120 remarkable minutes was Maguire, playing as a make-shift centre-forward with a header that sent manager Ruben Amorim and United fans into orbit. Spare a thought for Lyon's gallant players, though, who sank to their knees in despair at the final whistle.

Reaction

Harry Maguire, Manchester United scorer: "If you looked madness up in the dictionary you would probably describe it as that game. A crazy game and unbelievable to be on the right side of the result, and yet we've created great memories for a lot of our fans. We've made them happy and given them lots to talk about, good and bad."

Paulo Fonseca, Lyon coach: "It's hard to understand what happened. We have done magnificent things; we led 4-2 with one fewer player on the pitch. But we celebrated a lot at 4-2 when the match was not over. We thought we had won when we should have continued to think about our game management. We lacked experience at that moment. After the penalty to make it 4-3, Manchester United put a lot of pressure on us and put in a lot of crosses, and we gave in."

Ruben Amorim, Manchester United manager: "It was a great night. The team were tired and you felt that during the game, and then, at 4-2, with one more player, you think it's over – but here, it's never over.

"The sounds of the stadium were the best ever. Some people collect shirts or scarves, but I want to keep that sound – it's the best sound in the world."

Kobbie Mainoo, Manchester United midfielder: "It was an amazing comeback. When I came on, I tried to bring energy, contribute to the team, carry on the energy and feed off the other players."

Leny Yoro, Manchester United defender: "Maybe only one time have I been involved in such a crazy game like this – the game, the situation. It was the best game of my life.

"We always believe, even when we falter. It was difficult but the fans pushed us every time to help us more to win the game. We need to be high on confidence in every game if we want to win in this competition."

Key stats

• United have lost only one of their last 30 Europa League matches at Old Trafford.
• This was the first nine-goal game in Europa League history. Ten previous matches had involved eight goals.
• Lyon have been defeated in their last four two-legged European ties against English teams.
• United have won their last five home Europa League matches.
• Lyon were unbeaten in ten away European games before this one.
• This was United’s 28th UEFA competition quarter-final, a new English club record.
• United have won eight of their last nine two-legged European ties against French teams.

Line-ups

Man Utd: Onana; Mazraoui (Shaw 46), Maguire, Yoro; Dalot, Ugarte (Mount 86), Casemiro, Dorgu (Amass 100); Garnacho (Eriksson 100), Højlund (Mainoo 86), Fernandes

Lyon: Perri; Maitland-Niles, Mata, Niakhaté, Tagliafico (Ćaleta-Car 115); Tolisso, Akouokou (Tessmann 55), Veretout (Lacazette 55); Cherki (Aber Vinicius 106), Mikautadze (Fofana 64), Almada