22 hours Ago
Never Gonna Stop, declared the red and black tifo displayed at Old Trafford on Thursday night celebrating Manchester United's past glories in Europe. That may be so but when will this club stop putting their fans through the wringer like this? When will they stop producing utterly bonkers games of football like this? It was right up there with the craziest nights in United's history – and there have been a few. Sir Alex Ferguson was involved in most of them, but as the new banner was unfurled in the stand named after him, even the great man himself must have been bewildered by what he was witnessing here.
United two goals up before half-time and seemingly cruising to victory in this quarter-final second leg. Lyon coming back to level and then taking it into extra-time before scoring twice more with only 10 men. United looked dead and buried.
But no. This team never stops, remember. Man United completed a miraculous comeback to reach the Europa League semi-finals Harry Maguire's header in the 121st minute saw United edge out Lyon via a 7-6 aggregate win United had been trailing 6-4 on aggregate with six minutes to go before their last-gasp heroics They pulled one goal back and then another.
As we entered added time at the end of extra-time, Harry Maguire popped up to head the winner and send Old Trafford into ecstasy at the end of a quite incredible night. Three goals in seven minutes. Eighty-seven seconds separating the fourth and fifth goals.
So it's United, somehow, who go through to face Athletic Bilbao in the semis in May with a chance to return to the Basque city for the final at the San Mames Stadium towards the end of the month. They can still find salvation from this most hellish of seasons. Still win a trophy and qualify automatically for the Champions League.
Still hit the £100million jackpot. The smoke was still hanging in the air from the pre-match fireworks and tifo unveil when United took the lead from an excellent move that caught Lyon..
. Chris Wheeler.
