Andre Onana did little to hit Nemanja Matic’s claims to be one of Manchester United’s worst goalkeepers after a pair of mistakes helped Lyon in a 2-2 draw in the first Europa League game.
Onana hugged in a word fight with ex-husband Utd Player in the game, but complicated the now-lyon midfielder with two poor savings leading directly to both Lyon goals.
The goalkeeper had seemed inadvertently began the public line claiming that Man Utd was the best on both sides, before Matic responded during a press conference on Wednesday: “If you are one of the worst holders in Manchester United’s story, you have to take care.”
Ona’s first mistake saw that free Palm Thiago Almada kick in the upper corner before goals by Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirczee – the latter three minutes from time – seemed to have removed the heat from the Cameroonian goalkeeper.
But worse was to come. His ninth mistake that led to a goal in a UTD man’s shirt was probably the most painful, pouring Georges Mikautadze’s attempt on Rayan Cherki’s feet to allow Lyon level with less than 30 seconds of damage time.
It means that Man Utd will now have to beat Lyon on the return leg in seven days to advance, but it may have been so different.
Yoro’s first goal for the club, looking at Manuel Ugarte’s growing attempt at hitting half the time, was the least they deserved in the interval before replacing Zirczee to provide the perfect answer to jump with a powerful head from the Bruno Fernandes intersection for what was the winner.
But after Onana’s latest mistake in an increasingly difficult personal season, the heat will be firmly set in the UTD No. 1 to devote to his team a valuable first foot win.
More to follow …
