Manchester United secured a dramatic victory over Rangers in their Europa League clash at Old Trafford, courtesy of a stoppage-time winner. While the Red Devils showed room for improvement in their overall performance, they managed to claim all three points despite a late scare from the visitors.
United initially thought they had taken an early lead when Matthijs de Ligt headed the ball into the net from a corner. However, the goal was controversially disallowed for a foul by Leny Yoro. Despite this setback, the breakthrough came early in the second half when Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland inadvertently punched a corner into his own net under minimal pressure, gifting United the lead.
Rangers responded late in the game with an equalizer from Cyriel Dessers, but Bruno Fernandes quickly restored United’s advantage with a decisive goal that secured the win for Erik ten Hag’s side.
Altay Bayindir put in a reliable performance in goal, making a crucial save to deny a deflected effort from Igamane that appeared destined for the bottom corner. He dealt well with most of Rangers’ attacking threats and had little chance of stopping the equalizer.
Meanwhile, Leny Yoro displayed good defensive awareness by cutting off passes and breaking up attacks, although his passing was inconsistent. Yoro was substituted before the hour mark. Matthijs de Ligt had a mixed game, making a poor back pass that nearly gifted Rangers a chance but also seeing a goal disallowed. He was replaced at halftime.
Lisandro Martinez stood out with his aggressive style, contributing both offensively and defensively. He tested the opposition goalkeeper with a powerful shot before halftime and delivered a brilliant assist for Fernandes’ winner. Diogo Dalot, however, struggled to make an impact, with lapses in composure and ineffective contributions on both ends of the pitch. Toby Collyer had a nervous start, losing possession in a dangerous area, but he settled into the game and played a solid role in midfield.
Bruno Fernandes, deployed in a deeper midfield role, controlled the game with his vision and passing range. He capped off his performance with the crucial late goal, showcasing his leadership qualities. Christian Eriksen, playing behind the striker, was quiet early on but became influential later, providing the corner that led to Butland’s own goal. Amad had a slow start but improved in the second half, linking up well with teammates despite missing a key opportunity before halftime.
Alejandro Garnacho impressed with his lively performance, creating threats with his direct runs and hitting the post in a near miss. Joshua Zirkzee, in contrast, struggled to make an impact and was substituted for Rasmus Hojlund after a disappointing outing.
Among the substitutes, Harry Maguire missed a clear opportunity to extend the lead and was involved in the defensive lapse that allowed Rangers to equalize. Tyrell Malacia delivered a steady performance after coming on, while Manuel Ugarte brought stability to the midfield in the closing stages. Kobbie Mainoo also made a positive contribution late in the game.
