Super sub Harry Maguire’s stoppage-time header saved Manchester United’s blushes and potentially Erik ten Hag’s job as the Europa League clash with Porto ended in a thrilling 3-3 draw.
Four days after their 3-0 home humiliation at the hands of Tottenham, the Red Devils put criticism of the players and their under-fire manager to the side with an impressive start in Portugal.
Goals from Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund had United in control, only for Ten Hag’s men to lose their way and their defensive faculties as Pepe scored before Samu Omorodion’s brilliant brace.
Nice one, Harry 👊#MUFC || #UEL pic.twitter.com/t6MbYhqlKA
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 3, 2024
Captain Bruno Fernandes was sent off for the second straight match as Ten Hag squirmed, only for Maguire to head home a Christian Eriksen corner in stoppage time to seal a point.
The Dutchman will be grateful to the towering centre-back after coming to the rescue in what always looked to be the toughest assignment in the new-look Europa League.
But the manner of the performance in Porto does little to help Ten Hag ahead of Sunday’s Premier League trip to Aston Villa and the October international break.
It was a crazy end to a match that had started so brilliantly from a United perspective.
With seven minutes on the clock, Rashford collected the ball wide on the left and darted towards the box, showing great footwork under pressure to cut between two players and hit a low snapshot that Diogo Costa let squirm past him.
United pushed for a quickfire second, with a slight defensive touch taking a tantalising Rashford cross wide before a panicked Porto clearance at a corner hit a team-mate and flew over their own goal.
The second Ten Hag’s men threatened arrived in the 20th minute.
Eriksen played wide to Rashford, who slipped in underlapping Hojlund to hit a first-time drive that Costa was unable to stop and Nehuen Perez could not prevent crossing the line.
The United striker, making his first start of the season, made a point of celebrating with David Binningsley, who was the main physio during his recovery from a hamstring injury sustained on their pre-season tour.
Costa denied Rashford as United pushed on, only for an all too familiar stumble.
Porto pulled one back in the 27th minute as Pepe caught Lisandro Martinez napping and nodded home after Andre Onana had impressively stopped Noussair Mazraoui scoring an own goal.
United looked dazed on the banks of the Douro and Samu beat Matthijs de Ligt to Joao Mario’s clipped cross, with his powerful close-range header flying past Onana and sparking wild celebrations.
Assistant Ruud van Nistelrooy was booked in the aftermath of the equaliser.
United eventually settled and Casemiro was stopped before Rashford ended a fine run with a poor blocked shot – his last moment of note before the presumably injured forward was replaced by Alejandro Garnacho at the break.
Ten Hag’s side made a stumbling start to the second half, with Onana having to save from Francisco Moura after being allowed in on goal.
It was a warning shot United failed to heed and in the 50th minute Porto punished them.
A quick pass and a poor defensive line meant Pepe was behind and onside, with Samu smartly beating De Ligt to meet a cut back with a rifled strike into the top corner.
United belatedly regained a modicum of composure and pushed to level, with Costa denying Mazraoui before Garnacho failed with the follow-up.
Onana got down well to stop Samu completing a hat-trick as the visitors became desperate with their play and their fans chanted “attack, attack, attack.”
A tough ask got harder when already booked Fernandes stretched and was adjudged to have caught Perez with a high boot, leading Tobias Stieler to dish out a second yellow card.
Costa tipped over a shot by Garnacho as play swung from end to end and United stared down the barrel of an embarrassing defeat.
But early in stoppage time substitute Maguire met an Eriksen corner with a powerful header that secured a last-gasp draw.
[(Shimizu S-Pulse) Weakness]: 1. Shimizu S-Pulse are 13th in the J1 League table. Facing 2nd-placed Kashima Antlers, they will find it hard to win this match due to their declining form, indicating doubtful motivation.2. Shimizu S-Pulse defender Yuji Takahashi and forward Sena Saito will miss this league game due to injuries.3. Shimizu S-Pulse were winless with 2 draws and 3 losses in the last 5 g...
Liverpool table fresh Guehi bidAccording to The Athletic, Liverpool have submitted a fresh bid worth £35 million ($47m) to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace. The Reds had earlier seen two bids rejected by the Eagles, but they remain hopeful that this time the offer will be accepted.Fenerbahce eyeing move for EdersonTurkish Super Lig giants Fenerbahce are eyeing a move for out-of-favour Manc...
Roma medical for Liverpool fullback TsimikasAS Roma are holding a medical for Kostas Tsimikas today.The Liverpool fullback is leaving Anfield after finding himself third-choice this season behind fellow left-backs Andrew Robertson and Milos Kerkez.La Gazzetta dello Sport says the Greece international is expected in Italy today to finalise his move.Tsimikas will undergo a medical ahead of signing a...
FBL-ENG-PR-CHELSEA-FULHAMMarco Silva has demanded an explanation from the Premier League after lambasting three "shocking" refereeing decisions in Fulham's 2-0 Premier League loss at Chelsea.WHAT HAPPENED?The Whites thought they had taken the lead against their west London rivals Chelsea when 18-year-old Josh King coolly slotted past Robert Sanchez. However, the goal was chalked off by referee Rob...
[(Shonan Bellmare) Strength]: 1. Shonan Bellmare are one of the bottom teams in the table, taking 25 points and being in the relegation zone. They are strongly motivated to grab points.[(Shonan Bellmare) Neutral]: 1. Shonan Bellmare drew the last 4 home games, revealing mediocre home performances.[(Shonan Bellmare) Weakness]: 1. Shonan Bellmare lost 1-0 to Fagiano Okayama on the road in the last g...
Manchester United Training Session And Press Conference - UEFA Europa League Final 2025Chelsea have completed the signing of Alejandro Garnacho from Manchester United.WHAT HAPPENED?Garnacho has signed a seven-year contract with the Blues after the two Premier League clubs agreed a deal worth a fixed £40 million fee ($54m) with a 10 per cent sell-on clause, Goal understands. The 21-year-old ha...
Marc Guehi Crystal Palace 2025-26Liverpool have launched a fresh bid for Marc Guehi as they hope that Crystal Palace will finally accept their proposal and agree to sell their star defender before the summer transfer window closes on Monday. The Reds have been linked with a move for the England international throughout the summer and the champions are determined to secure his signature.WHAT HAPPEN...
West Ham United v Lille OSC - Pre-Season FriendlyAston Villa are close to signing West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paqueta on an initial loan with an obligation to buy next summer.WHAT HAPPENED?Villa are on the brink of agreeing a £47 million (€54m/$63m) package for Paqueta which includes a loan fee and add-ons, according to Fabrizio Romano. The report also states the 28-year-old has ac...
[(Nagoya Grampus) Strength]: 1. Nagoya Grampus currently have only 28 points and are near the bottom of the league table. To avoid relegation, they need to earn points.[(Nagoya Grampus) Neutral]: 1. Nagoya Grampus' 7 successive games ended with OVER.[(Nagoya Grampus) Weakness]: 1. Nagoya Grampus lost 2-4 to Sanfrecce Hiroshima in their last Emperor's Cup game, with poor performance.2. In the lates...
Cody Gakpo Liverpool 2025Premier League champions Liverpool have confirmed that star attacker Cody Gakpo has put pen to paper on a new long-term contract, which has extended his stay at Anfield beyond 2028. The Dutchman who joined the club in January 2023, during the Jurgen Klopp era, has established himself as a regular starter under new boss Arne Slot and has now committed his future to the Reds...
