91st-Minute Heroics by Harry Maguire Save Manchester United; Bruno Fernandes Sent Off
Harry Maguire’s late strike in injury time helped Manchester United escape a 3-3 draw with Porto in a thrilling Europa League match.
Bruno Fernandes was controversially sent off during the game, thus United had more to consider than the final score.
Chelsea began their Conference League campaign with a victory at home against Manchester United, who salvaged a 3-3 draw away from Porto on Thursday thanks to a goal from Harry Maguire in the 91st minute.
In the Europa League, Tottenham continued their perfect start at Ferencvaros, while Serie A team Roma lost 1-0 to Elfsborg in Sweden. Man United, who are struggling under Erik ten Hag, got off to a fast start in Porto, leading 2-0 after goals from Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund in the first 20 minutes.
However, Pepe gave the home team a response on minute 27, and Samu Omorodion’s braces either side of halftime turned the tide of the match.
With nine minutes to go, Bruno Fernandes received his marching orders for a high boot, and United were destined for a second loss in as many weeks following the red card of their captain.
But in injury time, Maguire emerged to head in from a corner, giving the Manchester team their second draw in two Europa League games this season and relieving some of Ten Hag’s burden.
I don’t pass judgment on us at this time. Ten Hag stated to TNT Sports, “Judge us at the end of the season.”
“The procedure is underway. Simply wait. We need to grow as a team. We’re going to keep working. We’re going to fight.”
Chelsea defeated Gent, a visiting team from Belgium, 4-2 to commemorate their Conference League debut.
Using his large squad, manager Enzo Maresca named a starting lineup that was completely different from the one that participated in the league game the previous weekend. In the twelfth minute, Pedro Neto increased Chelsea’s lead after Renato Veiga’s header put them ahead.
Tsuyoshi Watanabe gave the team a 2-1 lead in the 50th minute, but the match was ended in seven minutes by goals from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Christopher Nkunku, followed by a consolation goal from Omri Gandelman.
Michael Baidoo’s penalty kick in the 44th minute proved to be the difference as Elfsborg surprised Roma by winning 1-0 at home. After two games, Roma has one point.
Earlier in the Europa League, Tottenham defeated Ferencvaros of Hungary 2-1 on the road. Spurs prevailed despite a late goal from Barnabas Varga thanks to goals in each half from Pape Sarr and Brennan Johnson. I’m overjoyed. Traveling to Europe far from home is never easy, Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou said to TNT Sports.
“You saw the atmosphere tonight, there were a lot of things to deal with and also with four teenagers (in the team).”
Ferencvaros believed they had taken the lead through Varga in the eighteenth minute, but VAR determined that there had been an offside in the build-up. An inexperienced Spurs team got off to a poor start. When Sarr was the only player in the Ferencvaros box to maintain composure, the Premier League team broke the tie in the twenty-third minute.
On three separate occasions, the home team failed to clear the danger, allowing Sarr to pounce and slot home from inside the six-yard box. In the 86th minute, Johnson scored his fifth goal in as many games as Ferencvaros began to pose a threat. His left-footed strike grazed the post on its way into the net. And Varga’s goal in the ninetieth minute set up a tense finish, so Spurs needed the two-goal lead.
Lazio defeated Nice 4-1 in the rain in Rome, while Ajax and Real Sociedad drew 1-1 in Slavia Prague. Anderlecht overcame a 2-1 deficit to win the match. Lyon easily defeated Rangers 4-1, while Latvia’s RFS overcame a two-goal deficit to steal a 2-2 draw against Galatasaray at home.
In the Conference League, Legia Warsaw shocked Real Betis 1-0 in the Polish city, while Cercle Brugge easily defeated Swiss club St Gallen 6-2 at home. Larne lost 3-0 to Molde in Norway, making history as the first Northern Irish team to participate in a UEFA competition.
The New Saints of Wales also made their debut in a European competition during the league round, losing 2-0 on the road against Fiorentina, the Conference League runners-up twice. The hosts needed two goals in the second half to win.
