Maguire and Onana remain Man United stars
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester United discovered two unlikely heroes in Harry Maguire and André Onana on a night when they honored one of their heroes.
The build-up to Man United’s Champions League match against FC Copenhagen on Tuesday was dominated by tributes to Sir Bobby Charlton, who died aged 86 on Saturday – but the aftermath was all about Maguire’s goal and Onana’s stoppage-time penalty save as Man United defeated the Danish champions, 1-0.
Maguire’s presence on the field was surprising considering recent doubts about his role in the club, but when United needed a spark to rescue their European season, he provided with a second-half header.
But the drama was far from ended. When Scott McTominay conceded a penalty after the stipulated four minutes in injury time, Onana, who had been frequently chastised since joining United from Inter Milan in the summer, made the biggest save of his brief United career to save Jordan Larsson’s spot attempt. It was Charlton who first dubbed Old Trafford “The Theatre of Dreams,” and it was apt on this of all nights.
“It is incredible and a great night,” said manager Erik ten Hag. “Especially in the dying second when you concede a penalty, but a brilliant save from Andre Onana. Harry Maguire played a good game and Andre Onana as well. A poor first-half, but we stayed calm and in the second-half we stepped up and made more chances than them. I think in the end the result is justified but it was a narrow escape in the end.”
Maguire’s first goal since February 2022 was a memorable moment for the former United captain, who has had a difficult time since Ten Hag took over as manager. Maguire was demoted to the bench in favor of Lisandro Martnez and Raphael Varane for much of last season, and was deprived of the leadership ahead of the current season. He spent the first several months of the season on the bench.
Injuries have allowed Maguire to reclaim his position in the lineup, and after impressing in the 2-1 win against old side Sheffield United on Saturday, he was named ahead of Jonny Evans and Victor Lindelöf against FC Copenhagen.
His night didn’t start well, as he lost a 50-50 battle on the halfway line to Mohamed Elyounoussi in the first five minutes, resulting in Diogo Gonçalves hitting the post, but it concluded with the England defender being applauded off as he headed down the tunnel.
Maguire hasn’t had many reasons to smile in the previous year, but this was one, and he’ll be hoping he’s gained enough faith from Ten Hag to start Sunday’s derby against Manchester City, something was unthinkable only a few weeks ago.
Meanwhile, Onana’s place in the team has been called into question following a string of errors since his £43.8m signing from Inter, but there is little doubt that he will start against City.
Onana’s attempts to play out from the back ended up in the stands again on Tuesday against Copenhagen. But, early in the second half, he made an athletic save to deny Lukas Lerager, and then, with the game on the line, he produced a moment of magic to deflect Larsson’s penalty wide with a strong right hand as he dove to his left.
When Italian referee Marco Guida sounded the final whistle, the ball had scarcely finished bouncing away from goal after the penalty save. It was the first penalty shot save by a Manchester United goalkeeper since David de Gea made one against CSKA Moscow in 2015.
After allowing Leroy Sané to score a simple opening goal, Onana blamed himself for United’s loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League opener. Onana was also involved in the altercation that resulted in United midfielder Casemiro being sent off in the 3-2 defeat to Galatasaray. But United are finally back on track in Group A, thanks to their new Cameroon goalie.
“He showed personality,” Ten Hag said of Onana. “He knows that before he was not at the levels his skills are. He didn’t match his skills and he could do better and I think Saturday [against Sheffield United] was a very good performance and today as well. Don’t forget his save after half time on the counterattack.”
It was one of those moments that United fans inside Old Trafford will remember for the rest of their lives, but once the celebrations have died down, there will be questions about why United required a goal from a centre-back and a stunning penalty save to overcome FC Copenhagen. The first half, in especially, was terrible, and it wasn’t until Christian Eriksen came on at halftime that the home side began to take charge.
FC Copenhagen were humiliated 5-0 by Manchester City in the group stage a year ago, but nothing is simple for Ten Hag’s club, and each of Man United’s three successive triumphs has been laced with danger at various points.
McTominay was the hero against Brentford, scoring twice in stoppage time, and Diogo Dalot took over at Bramall Lane on Saturday, scoring a magnificent 25-yard shot.
This time it was Maguire and Onana’s turn, and Ten Hag can only hope that someone else is ready to take center stage against Manchester City on Sunday at the Theatre of Dreams.