Harry Maguire came off the bench to rescue Manchester United, and beleaguered manager Erik ten Hag, by grabbing a last-gasp equaliser in a pulsating 3-3 draw at Porto.
The England defender headed home in stoppage time to snatch a point for the visitors, who looked as though they were heading for another defeat after Porto hit back from 2-0 down to lead 3-2.
On a chaotic evening, captain Bruno Fernandes was sent-off for the second time in five days – although his red card against Tottenham at the weekend was later rescinded on appeal – as United’s weak underbelly was again exposed before Maguire’s late heroics.
A TOWERING HEADER! 💥
Harry Maguire scores a crucial equaliser for 10-man Man United 👏
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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 3, 2024
📰 Table Of Contents
A bright start
And yet it all started so well for the visitors when Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund scored within the opening 20 minutes.
Crisis, what crisis?
They couldn’t hold on, though, as the defensive frailties that have become a hallmark of Ten Hag’s tenure again came back to bite them.
Pepe pulled one back and Samu Omorodion scored twice as United shipped three goals again. Indeed, since Ten Hag joined the club, no Premier League team has conceded three or more goals in a match more times in all competitions than Manchester United’s 24.
Fernandes’ reckless second yellow card with nine minutes to go appeared to compound a miserable night, with Rashford’s withdrawal at half-time also indicating the winger may have sustained an injury.
Bruno Fernandes is SENT OFF! 🟥
The Man United captain is shown a second yellow for dangerous play 😬
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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 3, 2024
But Maguire rose highest to meet Christian Eriksen’s inviting corner to give Ten Hag an element of breathing space before their next test, a tricky trip to Aston Villa on Sunday.
Promising signs from Rashford
Despite a wobbly start which saw Andre Onana produce a second-minute save from Galeno, United snatched the lead through Rashford.
The winger cut in from the left, danced through a couple of weak challenges before firing in a shot which crept under Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa at his near post.
United still looked fragile at the back but they offered a threat every time they went forward and Hojlund came close to adding a second but narrowly failed to convert Rashford’s teasing cross.
The pair combined again after 20 minutes and this time it did result in a second goal for the visitors.
Eriksen’s driving run created space for Rashford, he slipped it inside for Hojlund, and the Denmark striker’s shot was again too much for Costa to handle at his near post.
Costa partially redeemed himself with a fine, if unconventional, save to deny Rashford three minutes later.
Despite their two-goal lead, United’s vulnerability meant the game was still finely poised with the next goal crucial.
Pepe strikes
And it went to the home side after 28 minutes. Onana produced a fine save to keep out Samu’s initial header but he could do little as Pepe reacted first to nod to the ball home.
The 20-year-old Samu was causing United all sorts of problems with his pace and power and he displayed all his physical attributes to grab the equaliser after 34 minutes, shrugging off the attention of Matthijs De Ligt to get on the end of Joao Mario’s cross and head past Onana.
Casemiro saw a close-range shot blocked by Costa as United came again while Rashford ought to have made it 3-2 on the stroke of half-time but delayed his shot and the chance was lost.
Onana was the only man in United’s defensive unit that was distinguishing himself and the former Inter goalkeeper produced another terrific save to tip Francisco Moura’s effort round the post.
It was to prove a momentary respite for the beleagured visitors as, from their next attack, Porto went in front for the first time.
Pepe outpaced Lisandro Martinez down the right and his low cross picked out Samu, whose dart to the near post ahead of De Ligt was followed by an emphatic finish into the roof of the net.
WOW 🤯
Samu Omorodion scores his second of the night and gives Porto the lead!
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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 3, 2024
Incredible finish as the 10 men salvage a draw
To their credit, United rallied with Fernandes shooting wide, Garnacho testing Costa from long-range and Martinez firing over.
With 13 minutes to go, and United needing a goal, Ten Hag opted to switch his central defenders with Maguire and Jonny Evans coming on for De Ligt and Martinez.
It smacked of a scrambled mind, and the same accusation could be levelled at Fernandes. Having picked up a yellow card in the first half for a high boot, he lunged in wildly when trying to meet a left-wing cross and made contact with Nereus Perez’s head.
Galeno ought to have finished the 10 men off but shot weakly at Onana when clean through, and it proved a costly miss as Maguire salvaged what could be a crucial point for United.
