Manchester United v Copenhagen: Champions League – live | Champions League
Key events
Group A suddenly looks a lot healthier for Manchester United. Could that slightly absurd match – Erik ten Hag’s side didn’t play well, and got away with a big one at the end there – prove a turning point in United’s campaign? They’ll need to play better to build on it, but a win’s a win’s a win, and what a boost to both Harry Maguire and Andre Onana, the latter making a quite sensational penalty save right at the end. Despite the performance, it’s been a good evening for United … if obviously an extremely bittersweet one.
Harry Maguire and Andre Onana speak to TNT. “Incredible,” begins Maguire. “The first half was really poor … the second was a lot better …an important win and this man stepped up and made a massive save.”
“I was doing my job, you know?” says Onana. “I’m happy with the victory … we did a good game … we have to continue like that.”
Magiure adds: “It was one of those nights, it was just meant to be. A win dedicated to Sir Bobby. It’s been a tough, tough week. We’re going to miss him, and we’re really proud to get the win for him.”
The atmosphere at Old Trafford threatened to curdle tonight. A light smattering of boos as the players departed for the half-time break. But the team were much improved in the second half, and secured their win in the most dramatic way possible, as the much-maligned Andre Onana saved Jordan Larsson’s late, late penalty. Now the atmosphere is electric! And no wonder, because United have resurrected their Champions League campaign in the most dramatic of fashions … while grabbing the win they so desperately wanted for Sir Bobby Charlton. Football, eh? You know the pay-off.
FULL TIME: Manchester United 1-0 Copenhagen
The whistle goes immediately! United win! Someone special looking down on them tonight, perhaps?
90 min +7: Larsson whips towards the bottom right … but Onana extends to turn the ball around the post! Old Trafford erupts! Again! Redemption for Onana, who has made his mistakes in this competition but is the hero tonight!
90 min +6: There’s a lengthy VAR check, but the decision stands. Jordan Larsson, son of former United player Henrik, will take!
Penalty to Copenhagen!
90 min +5: The corner’s hit long from the left. Óskarsson hooks it back across the face of goal. Elyounoussi prepares to bundle home only to be high-kicked by McTominay … and the referee points to the penalty spot!
90 min +4: Falk dribbles dangerously down the left and reaches the byline, but his cutback-cum-cross is bundled out by Eriksen. And from the resulting corner …
90 min +3: Turns out the goalscorer Maguire was played onside by Vavro’s shoulder. The small margins, huh.
90 min +2: This match is petering out, which suits Manchester United just fine.
90 min +1: Oscar Højlund comes on for Elias Achouri. In the dugout, his older brother Rasmus smiles proudly.
90 min: “There’s only one Bobby Charlton,” sing the home faithful. An additional four minutes are announced.
88 min: Copenhagen stroke it around to little effect. United have been so much better in this second half, even if the bar was set low.
86 min: United send on Anthony Martial in place of Marcus Rashf… no, Erik ten Hag changes his mind as a disappointed Rashford begins traipsing off. Rasmus Højlund makes way instead.
85 min: … and the corner is a non-event.
85 min: Before the corner, Jordan Larsson comes on for the effervescent Diogo Gonçalves.
84 min: Falk rolls a pass down the inside-left channel for Goncalves, who looks for Óskarsson in the middle. Varane slides in to make a crucial intervention, hooking the ball over his own bar with the young Icelander preparing to slam home.
82 min: Rashford shimmies down the right and rolls a pass into the path of Fernandes, whose first-time shot from the corner of the six-yard box is blocked out for a corner. Nothing comes of the set piece.
80 min: Fernandes is booked for a fairly agricultural lunge into Elyounoussi. He can’t have any complaints … but make them he surely does, and in theatrical fashion to boot. You have to admire his chutzpah.
79 min: Garnacho whistles a cross through the six-yard box but there’s nobody there to poke home for United, who, having looked so impotent for so long, are seriously threatening a second goal now.
78 min: How have United not doubled their lead here? They counter three on two. McTominay sends Garnacho free down the left. Garnacho opens his body only for his power shot to be blocked by Grabara. The ball breaks to McTominay, who aims for the top right but the ball curls away at the last.
77 min: Copenhagen respond to finally falling behind by making a double change. Christian Sørensen and Orri Óskarsson come on for Elias Jelert and captain Viktor Claesson.
76 min: Eriksen is making a huge difference. His low cross is half cleared. Rashford shins over the bar from 12 yards.
75 min: The United tails are suddenly up. Rashford busies himself down the right and earns another corner. A second goal would make all the difference … but Fernandes can’t beat the first man Claesson. Copenhagen clear.
73 min: The goal survives a VAR check for offside. Vavro was playing Maguire on. Just. The small margins that mean so much for United’s Champions League campaign!
GOAL! Manchester United 1-0 Copenhagen (Maguire 72)
Garnacho’s shot from the inside-left channel is deflected over the bar for a corner. The ball’s played back up the wing and sent in from the right by Eriksen. Maguire rises highest and plants a header past Grabara from six yards! Old Trafford erupts!
70 min: … but Copenhagen continue to look troublesome too, and Goncalves tears into acres down the left. He’s not far from finding Elyounoussi on the edge of the six-yard box, but United manage to bundle the ball away from danger.
69 min: Garnacho had been sent clear by a lovely pass from deep by Fernandes. At least United are making chances now.
67 min: In fact, the shot took a flick off Varane. From the resulting corner, United counter and Garnacho is sent clear down the middle! He dribbles hard into the Copenhagen box … only to take a heavy touch that allows Grabara to claim the ball at his feet. A huge chance spurned!
66 min: Goncalves belts the free kick straight into the United wall. The ball nearly breaks to Lerager, and Dalot does well to stay alert and hack clear. From the resulting throw on the left, Jelert dribbles infield and lashes a shot into the side netting.
65 min: Achouri holds the ball up on the edge of the United D. He doesn’t have options, but stays strong and is eventually hauled off the ball by an impatient Maguire. A free kick in a central position, the best part of 30 yards out.
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