Image Credits: GETTY IMAGES
It was a special night for Manchester United as they pulled off a completely crazy victory over Lyon.
The Red Devils secured a place in the Europa League semi-finals.
Old Trafford delivered the kind of night football fans dream about.
United battled back to win 7-6 on aggregate despite throwing away a comfortable 4-2 lead at half-time.
Ruben Amorim’s side produced one of the greatest comebacks in club history.
Manchester United make new European history
Many are already calling it one of European football’s all-time classics.
As Rio Ferdinand declared a miracle was needed, Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire stepped up to deliver exactly that in front of a stunned crowd.
Alongside the headline-making scorers, Casemiro’s leadership helped lay the foundation for United’s late fightback.
The win didn’t just send United into the last four – it also etched their name into football’s record books.
United became the first team in history to score two goals in the 120th minute or later of a major European match.
With Mainoo and Maguire rewriting the script at the death.
Opta Joe highlighted the remarkable sequence:
120 – Manchester United are the first team in history to score two goals in the 120th minute of a major European match. Amorimtime. pic.twitter.com/d9VCeb0Wiq
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 17, 2025
114th minute – Bruno Fernandes – 4-3
120th minute – Kobbie Mainoo – 4-4
121st minute – Harry Maguire – 5-4
The dramatic turnaround was dubbed ‘Amorim time’.
A clear nod to the famous ‘Fergie time’ that defined so many of United’s iconic comebacks under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Ferguson was present at Old Trafford on Thursday.
The former boss will no doubt have recognised the same fight and belief that were the trademarks of his own trophy-laden teams.
But that wasn’t the only record to fall on the night.
In total, five goals were scored during extra time, making it the first major European game in history to see such a goal rush in the added 30 minutes.
Kobbie Mainoo’s equaliser was the pick of the bunch.
However, it was Maguire’s header that sealed one of the most chaotic wins in the club’s European history.
5 – Tonight’s game between Manchester United and Lyon is the first match in major European football history to see five goals scored after extra-time. Chaos. pic.twitter.com/PwWruh2awz
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 17, 2025
The result has already lifted the cloud that hung over United following last weekend’s heavy defeat to Newcastle.
Fans are now daring to believe in Europa League glory.
Potential turning point for Ruben Amorim and Manchester United
Amorim will hope the comeback proves to be a turning point.
Much like Sir Alex Ferguson’s era-defining FA Cup win over Nottingham Forest in 1990.
A game where Mark Robins famously saved his job.
That victory sparked the never-say-die attitude that defined Ferguson’s United.
Amorim will be dreaming of this result doing the same.
If Maguire’s goal ends up launching another era of success, it could go down in history just as Robins’ did.
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Source: Centred Devils
