Bruno Fernandes scored a stoppage-time winner for Manchester United as they beat Rangers 2-1 at Old Trafford despite Cyriel Dessers’ late equaliser.
The Rangers forward had looked to have secured a point for the Scottish club in the 88th minute when he sensationally bested Harry Maguire to score a beautiful goal and cancel out Jack Butland’s earlier own goal but Fernandes then volleyed in superbly to secure victory.
The points move United up to fourth in the league phase. For all their Premier League struggles, Ruben Amorim’s side are unbeaten after seven fixtures in Europe and a result away to Steaua Bucharest next week will ensure a top-eight finish that bypasses the play-off round. Rangers, now 13th, look almost sure to be in it.
How it happened
It was Butland, a boyhood United supporter, who had looked to have provided the game’s defining moment when he punched Christian Eriksen’s corner into his own net early in the second half to seemingly undermine his side’s spirited resistance.
Jack Butland’s own goal gave Manchester United the lead
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Kris Boyd reacts to Butland’s howler
But Rangers, who had the better chances in the first half despite Matthijs de Ligt having a goal disallowed, kept pushing for an equaliser. They found it through Dessers’ dramatic finish to the delight of the vocal away support but there was a twist.
Cyriel Dessers thought he had secured a point for Rangers
Amorim’s comments at the weekend about this being the worst-ever United team had put the spotlight on the players but United showed character to find the winner. Lisandro Martinez’s angled ball found its way to the captain, who made no mistake.
It was cruel on Rangers but it was also a much-needed magical moment at Old Trafford for a team that had lost four of their previous five games inside this stadium. Far from convincing, of course. But still capable of making this old stadium roar with delight.
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It was joy to despair for Boyd as he watched Man Utd get a late winner against Rangers
Amorim: It was a good victory
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim:
“We didn’t deserve the draw, I think it was fair for us to win the game,” said Amorim in the press conference afterwards.
Speaking to TNT Sports, he added: “We played well. There was more connection with the ball, good speed.
“We lost control of the game for seven minutes because of small, bad decisions. Even when we suffered Rangers’ goal, we were so near to the second goal and missed so many chances. But we recovered and it was a good victory.
“We are not playing our best, we are far from that, but we improved from the last game.
“The opponent is different, the speed is different, everything is different. But they tried, you can see it again. The connections, the movement, some play and we did well for the time we’ve had to train.
“We need to be more clinical in the right moments. That can help us a lot.”
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Boyd was critical of Manchester United following their late win over Rangers
‘Garnacho is improving’
Ruben Amorim speaking in the press conference about Alejandro Garnacho:
“I think he is improving in every aspect of the game, he was better today playing inside, also outside, changing positions, he’s improving the recovering position.
“You can see it until 90 minutes he’s always there recovering and helping, sometimes showing some frustration and that is good because he wants more.
“I think he has potential to be so much better in every situation in the game. What I can say is he understood what I was trying to do, was really clear, I just want to help them but in the end it’s them that do the job.”
Asked if this would be Garnacho’s final game at Old Trafford: “No, I am focused on the games and he is here, he is a player for Manchester United. He was really important for us today and let’s see in the next days.”
De Ligt and Yoro injury concerns
De Ligt was removed at half-time and Leny Yoro was also substituted early in the second half, with Amorim revealing that both defenders had come off because of injury concerns.
“Matthijs De Ligt felt something in his leg, as did Leny Yoro. We can’t risk anything.
“I know we have to win, but we have to show the players that everybody matters.”
Clement: Everybody is gutted
Rangers boss Philippe Clement speaking in the press conference:
“I saw everybody gutted in the dressing room, disappointed that we lost after playing that kind of game. I am also [disappointed] clearly because want to win, to take the points we deserve also.
“But I am also proud of what the team did today, sticking to the plan, following the tactics with all the young players coming on the pitch. The team stayed compact, stayed well organised and stayed brave on the ball.
“We created enough chances. In the first half, we created the best chance. We went behind but did not stop believing and playing for the goal so it is very disappointing to concede the goal at the end.”
Man Utd’s win in stats
- Manchester United scored a 90th-minute winning goal for the eighth time in major European competition, more often than any other English side.
- Ruben Amorim is the third Manchester United manager to win each of their first three games in charge in major European competition after Matt Busby in 1956 and Alex Ferguson in 1990.
- English teams remain unbeaten in their last 20 meetings with Scottish opposition in European competition, since Celtic beat Manchester United in the 2006-07 Champions League.
- Manchester United have won all three of their Europa League matches under Ruben Amorim, as many wins as the Red Devils have picked up in 11 Premier League games under the Portuguese manager.