Manchester United snatch late draw against FC Porto
Manchester United snatched a last-gasp 3-3 draw away to FC Porto in yet another chaotic European away day. The Red Devils and Erik ten Hag were hoping for the chance to kickstart their Europa League campaign by winning in an intimidating Estádio do Dragão. The team was under immense pressure after three disappointing results on the bounce against Crystal Palace, FC Twente, and Tottenham Hotspur. Porto started by far the brighter of the two sides as they registered two shots on goal in the opening two minutes, one excellently blocked by Noussair Mazraoui and one by Galeno that was tipped over by Andre Onana.
United worked their way back into the game by moving the ball around the park and got off to the perfect start when Casemiro and Christian Eriksen combined well and released Marcus Rashford on the left-hand side of the pitch. The much-maligned Englishman showed great acceleration and fancy footwork to beat the Porto defence and his shot slid under Diogo Costa’s right boot after only seven minutes. The Portuguese keeper will probably feel he should have done better but neither United fans nor Rashford will care as the Mancunian recorded his fourth goal of the season, already half his total of last year.
Porto responded with sustained periods of possession and in the 14th minute Samu Omorodion wiggled his way into some space and unleashed a right-footed shot that was expertly blocked by Lisandro Martinez and Joao Mario could only wildly fire over the rebound. The Red Devils grew in confidence and a long ball from Andre Onana was won by Rasmus Hojlund who laid it off for Eriksen who fed Rashford out wide. The England international this time slipped in Hojlund whose shot squeezed past a disappointed Costa, who will once again feel he should have done better.
A two-goal lead within the first 20 minutes, the start could not have been any better for Ten Hag or the travelling Red army. With their tails fully up, Ten Hag’s side almost added a third when Rashford waltzed down the left wing and flashed a fierce delivery across goal. Sadly for the away side, Pepe reacted quicker than a flat-footed Martinez to head in a goal to halve the deficit.
United conceded two goals in seven minutes in what was a carbon copy of last year’s European away day playbook. In the 41st minute after more good work down the profitable left, Fernandes hung a beautifully disguised cross towards Hojlund and Casemiro with the Brazilian getting a shot off that was bundled behind by the Porto keeper. Just before the whistle blew, there was one more chance in a frantic half when Rashford ran and ran at the Porto defence and made his way into the box but failed to get a shot off just at the right moment and the home team cleared the danger, as the two sides entered the second half all square.
Starting XI: Onana, Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez, Dalot, Casemiro, Eriksen, Fernandes, Amad, Rashford, Hojlund
Subs: Garnacho, Zirkzee, Antony, Evans, Maguire
