Man Utd vs FC Copenhagen LIVE: Champions League result as Andre Onana saves penalty to rescue win
Manchester United 1-0 FC Copenhagen: Maguire and Onana were the heroes to earn the Red Devils a crucial three points after Old Trafford paid its respects to Sir Bobby Charlton
Harry Maguire headed a second-half goal and goalkeeper Andre Onana saved a penalty deep in stoppage time to power Manchester United to a 1-0 victory over FC Copenhagen for their first victory in the Champions League this season.
Back in the competition after a one-year absence, Erik ten Hag’s side moved into third place in Group A after collecting a precious three points after three games. Bayern Munich top the group with nine points after beating Galatasary 3-1 earlier.
The victory looked in doubt when Copenhagen’s Jordan Larsson stepped up to the spot after Scott McTominay attempted a clearance and caught Elias Achouri in the head with a high boot in the 94th minute. But Onana dived to his left to push the shot away before being mobbed by team mates at the final whistle.
Maguire, who has been the target of fan abuse in recent months, had the Old Trafford faithful on their feet when he broke the deadlock in the 72nd minute, Christian Eriksen’s long ball into the area finding the defender at the far post.
A night that began on a solemn note with a tribute to club great Bobby Charlton, who died on Saturday at age 86, ended in celebration with fans singing “There’s only one Bobby Charlton”.
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Full-time! Man Utd 1-0 Copenhagen
Resolve. Perseverance. Redemption. This Manchester United victory may not have been anywhere near as beautiful as any of those Sir Bobby Charlton graced, or indeed that tribute to his life, but it displayed some of the club soul that he made famous. Because this was obviously about so much more than just beating Copenhagen 1-0 late on, or indeed staying in the competition the club’s legend was most built on. It was certainly about so much more for Andre Onana, who had his first great moment at Manchester United.
That was maybe what Charlton would have most enjoyed. Doing it when it mattered. A night that started with a gracefully poignant mourning of the great man ended with more appropriate celebration. It ended with deafening and defiant roar, in celebration of a player who has struggled in his first few weeks, in memory of a player who was perhaps the club’s greatest.
It was a night that also showed why this team remains someway short of the teams this club great elevated, but that won’t feel like it matters for now.
United got through. A player that has been pilloried and unpicked in Harry Maguire displayed defiance, scoring the winner for a relatively late 1-0 win. Onana then stepped up by getting done, keeping it at 1-0 in the 96th minute, and keeping United in this great competition.
By Miguel Delaney at Old Trafford
Harry Maguire and Andre Onana heroics offer fitting tribute to Sir Bobby Charlton
Manchester United 1-0 FC Copenhagen: On a dramatic and emotional night at Old Trafford, two struggling players produced big moments to deliver a crucial win in the Champions League
Rasmus Hojlund hints at bright future with integral display against Copenhagen
It is a path less travelled, let alone as quickly, a journey from FC Copenhagen to Sturm Graz, Atalanta to Manchester United, all before his 21st birthday. It was the culmination of an ambition, too, for a boyhood United fan, the realisation of a dream.
And yet there were points in a reunion where Rasmus Hojlund could be forgiven for wondering if he had been better off staying put. Not financially, admittedly, with the rewards that come with a £72m price tag, but from a footballing perspective. The more coherent team were Copenhagen, the low-budget overachievers seeming to have more of a plan than the high-budget overachievers but it was tempting to think that if the Danish champions could still call upon their most valuable old boy, they would have won at Old Trafford.
Instead, United were victorious, aided by a telling intervention by a Dane. It wasn’t Hojlund, though that is no criticism: there are times when he is the brightest of United’s front three simply a process of excellence but here, as against Galatasaray, it was a consequence of excellence. But it was his compatriot Christian Eriksen who curled in a cross that Harry Maguire converted. Which, along with Andre Onana’s 97th-minute penalty save from Jordan Larsson, averted indignity. Which a draw would have been, given the gulf in resources between the clubs.
By Richard Jolly at Old Trafford
Rasmus Hojlund hints at bright future with integral display against Copenhagen
Manchester United 1-0 Copenhagen: Harry Maguire and Andre Onana will take the headlines but Hojlund played a vital part in United’s victory
Harry Maguire dedicates dramatic Man Utd victory to Sir Bobby Charlton: ‘It was meant to be’
On a night that Manchester United desperately needed to win, in part due to their poor standing in Group A of the Champions League and, in part to honour the passing of United legend Sir Bobby Charlton, it fell to two of their most maligned characters to ensure victory at Old Trafford.
A tepid first half left the packed house inside the stadium clamouring for a bit of verve and excitement from the hosts, who seemed low on confidence and motivation. Chances were few and far between with Copenhagen coming the closest to scoring as Diogo Goncalves struck the woodwork early on.
The introduction of Christian Eriksen provided a new dimension to United’s play and the Dane was the supplier for the only goal of the match. A corner was knocked out to him and he whipped a cross perfectly onto the head of Harry Maguire. The defender, selected for tonight’s game after a sterling performance at the weekend, repaid Erik ten Hag’s faith with a powerful header into the deck, the ball bouncing over Kamil Grabara to send United in front.
‘It was meant to be’: Man Utd dedicate dramatic victory to Sir Bobby Charlton
Two under-fire Manchester United stars stepped up to ensure they earned all three points at Old Trafford
Full-time! Man Utd 1-0 Copenhagen
Manchester United have won a Champions League match for the first time since a 2-0 away victory against Villarreal on 23 November 2021.
This is their first Champions League victory at Old Trafford since 20 October 2021 (3-2 against Atalanta).
Full-time! Man Utd 1-0 Copenhagen
90+7 mins: Manchester United close out the game and they’re on the board. A huge three points for Erik ten Hag’s men takes them up to third in Group A, just one point behind Galatasary.
They’re now above Copenhagen and travel to Denmark next time out for a repeat of tonight’s contest. Another three points in that game will put them in good stead for the final matches of the group stages.
It wasn’t pretty nor convincing but Harry Maguire’s fine headed effort and Andre Onana’s penalty stop earns the Red Devils a much needed victory.
What a night.
SAVE! Man Utd 1-0 Copenhagen
90+7 mins: Andre Onana is a hero! Jordan Larsson steps up to take the penalty and smokes it to the goalkeeper’s left. Onana goes the correct way and slaps the ball wide!
What a save!
Penalty to Copenhagen!
Man Utd 1-0 Copenhagen
90+4 mins: With what is surely going to be the final act of the game, Copenhagen think they have a penalty. A corner ball is whipped into the box and nodded back across goal.
Scott McTominay raises his foot high and seemingly catches the man resulting in the referee pointing to the spot.
VAR checks the decision and doesn’t overturn it.
Man Utd 1-0 Copenhagen
90 mins: Time is ticking away from Copenhagen who need to score to limit how many points Man Utd take from this game. There’ll be four minutes of added time to play.
Man Utd 1-0 Copenhagen
86 mins: Anthony Martial comes on to replace Marcus Rashford for the final few minutes of this game.
Before Rashford gets to the side of the pitch Erik ten Hag changes his mind and keeps the No.10 on. Instead Rasmus Hojlund goes off to a decent round of applause.
Man Utd 1-0 Copenhagen
83 mins: Close! Copenhagen’s desire to equalise is causing them problems. United are so quick in transition and are repeatedly catching the visitors out with pace in behind the lines.
Rashford sends the ball into the box for Fernandes who shoots and has his effort deflected out for a corner.
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