Match Recap: Rangers 1-2 Manchester United
Bruno Fernandes spared Manchester United from embarrassment at Old Trafford, scoring a late winner to seal a 2-1 victory over Rangers in the Europa League. Despite a shaky performance, the Red Devils now sit within touching distance of the knockout stage, with their final group game at FCSB still to play.
Key Moments:
- Opening Goal: Rangers opened the scoring indirectly as Jack Butland punched Christian Eriksen’s corner into his own net.
- Late Drama: Harry Maguire’s slip allowed Cyriel Dessers to equalize in the 88th minute, seemingly snatching a point for Rangers.
- Fernandes’ Winner: Just three minutes later, Lisandro Martinez found Fernandes in the box, and the captain delivered a low, composed volley to secure the victory.
Player Ratings
Goalkeeper & Defence
- Altay Bayindir (7/10): Reliable and composed, making crucial saves from Yilmaz and Igamane.
- Leny Yoro (6/10): Defended solidly but conceded the foul that saw De Ligt’s goal ruled out.
- Matthijs de Ligt (5/10): Sloppy in possession but unfortunate to have his headed goal disallowed.
- Lisandro Martinez (6/10): Strong passing and crucial assist for the winner.
- Diogo Dalot (6/10): Steady defensively, making key interventions in the second half.
Midfield
- Amad Diallo (6/10): Showed glimpses of quality but lacked end product.
- Christian Eriksen (7/10): Controlled the game with smart passing and delivered the corner that led to the first goal.
- Toby Collyer (5/10): Struggled to handle the occasion, losing possession too easily.
- Alejandro Garnacho (7/10): The most dynamic player on the pitch, constantly threatening. However, he missed a golden chance, hitting the post.
Attack
- Joshua Zirkzee (6/10): Played a supporting role in build-up play but rarely threatened the goal.
- Bruno Fernandes (7/10): Struggled with some of his passing but proved decisive with the match-winner.
Subs & Manager
- Harry Maguire (4/10): Costly defensive mistake for the equalizer and wasteful in front of goal.
- Tyler Malacia (5/10): Largely anonymous.
- Manuel Ugarte & Kobbie Mainoo (5/10): Failed to make a noticeable impact.
- Rasmus Hojlund (N/A): Came on too late to influence the match.
- Ruben Amorim (6/10): Mixed feelings after the performance, but credit for grinding out a win.
What’s Next?
Manchester United will focus on sealing their knockout stage berth when they face FCSB in their final Europa League group game. With four consecutive wins, they’ve built momentum, but performances need to improve to avoid future slip-ups.