Onana lives up to Matic's barbs as he lets United down with Lyon clangers
CLOSE SHAVE: Manchester United's Alejandro Garnacho attempts a shot on goal during the UEFA Europa League quarter-final, first leg match at Parc Olympique Lyonnais in Lyon, France. Pic: Adam Davy/PA Wire
ANDRE Onana found himself embroiled in a pre-match war of words with Nemanja Matic before gifting Lyon two goals that supported the former Manchester United favourite’s claims.
It looked as though United, and their goalkeeper, would escape with a win after a dramatic 88th minute goal from substitute Joshua Zirkzee.
But in the 95th, and final minute, of their Europa League quarter-final tie, Onana could only parry a shot from Georges Mikautadze and Rayan Cherki pounced to push the rebound into the United goal.
It was a sickening blow for Ruben Amorim’s side, battling for their last hopes of silverware in this traumatic season, especially as they thought they had won it minutes earlier.
A United attack broke down but the ever-threatening Bruno Fernandes spotted an opening, chipping forward a superb cross over defender Clinton Mata for Zirkzee to head home impressively from six yards.
And nobody was more relieved - at that stage - than Onana.
Matic had branded him one of the worst keepers in United history after the Old Trafford number one had claimed his side are far superior to their French opponents.
In a tie that United must win to have any hope of securing a place in next season’s Champions League - and the financial boost that would bring with it - an horrendous Onana error then gifted the French side the lead from a Thiago Almada free-kick.
To compound Onana’s mistake, the opening goal came just as United appeared to be taking control of the first leg tie with a series of half-chances.
In the case of Rasmus Hojlund, it was probably a full chance but the Danish striker, with one goal from his previous 24 United appearances is hardly playing with peak confidence and screwed a pathetic shot well wide from Patrick Dorgu’s pass.
Then, on 25 minutes, Noussair Mazraoui tripped Nicolas Tagliafico and, after he had talked the talk in the build-up to the game, Onana was about to be handed the opportunity to walk the walk.
Almada took the free-kick with his delivery flying over the head of Moussa Niakhate but doing enough to put off Onana who saw the ball bounce in front of him and, diving late, missed as it flew past him.
It was a devastating blow for United and the minutes that followed looked like they could collapse. Leny Yoro blocked well to stop Cherki, Almada’s long shot was smothered by Onana and Diogo Dalot was booked for a desperate foul on Tagliafico.
United steadied the ship soon enough, although they offered little in attack until the four minutes of added time had elapsed and Lyon were expecting the half-time whistle.
Instead, with first half time all but out, Niakhate brought down Alejandro Garnacho and was about to pay the price as Fernandes curled in a dangerous free-kick which drew an unconvincing punch out of Lucas Perri.
Manuel Ugarte, lurking on the edge of the home area, volleyed towards goal and Yoro showed lighting reflexes to steer a deft header into the Lyon goal, his first for the club.
There was not even time for the game to restart which was killer timing, and had Lyon’s two high-profile former Premier League stars Matic and Alexandre Lacazette warming up as soon as the second half kicked off.
The former Arsenal striker was soon on and instantly missed a glorious opportunity, volleying wide from six yards after a scintillating run and cross from Mikautadze.
His next involvement, on 64 minutes, was more impressive as he received from, and returned a pass to, Corentin Tolisso who easily beat Mazraoui before losing his footing and placing a weak shot at Onana.
The tie promised to open up, when Mazraoui put in an important block on Mikautadze and United instantly broke upfield, with a three-on-two advantage, only for Garnacho to make the wrong choice and play a poor ball which Fernandes could not control.
Perri 5; Maitland-Niles 6, Mata 6, Niakhate 7, Tagliafico 7; Tolisso 6, Akouokou 5 (Lacazette 51, 5), Veretout 6; Cherki 7, Mikautadze 8, Almada 7. Barisic, Descamps, Diarra, Rodriguez, Molebe, Kumbedi, Matic, Omari, Abner, de Carvalho, Caleta-Car.
Onana 4; Mazraoui 6, Maguire 7 (Lindelof 83), Yoro 8; Dalot 5, Casemiro 7, Ugarte 6 (Mount 72, 5), Dorgu 5; Fernandes 8, Garnacho 6 (Mainoo 83); Hojlund 4 (Zirkzee 63, 7). Amass, Bayindir, Eriksen, Heaton, Kamason, Kukoni, Moorhouse, Shaw.
G Nyberg (Sweden) 8
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