United Rose from the Dead on Easter Week
I should’ve written this on Thursday, but I couldn’t. That match drained me. Mentally, emotionally—everything. This wasn’t football, it was a full-blown adrenaline trip.
Last week we blew a 2-0 coaching plan, thanks to some classic Onana mistakes, and let Lyon walk away with a 2-2 draw. Matic probably laughed himself to sleep. We had to win at home, and somehow, we did. But if you thought it would be simple, you clearly haven’t watched United this season.
Chaos Starts with Calm
The match started surprisingly well—United controlling possession, short passes, keeping things tidy. And in the 10th minute, Garnacho danced inside the box, took a heavy touch, and delivered a perfect cut-back to Ugarte for a simple tap-in. 1-0. Conte wants Garnacho for a reason—he offers: presence and persistence.
We kept it going, and just before halftime, Dalot smashed a low shot that pinged off the post and in. United 2-0 at the break. Aggregate 4-2. Felt like we were cruising.
Lyon Flip the Script
Then second half happened. Slowly we lost control. Lyon dominated possession—60% and rising. Around the 70th, Tolisso nodded one in through a crowded box. Seven minutes later, poor positioning and soft defending let Tagliafico sneak one in. Suddenly, it was 2-2. Aggregate 4-4. From cruising to chaos in under ten minutes. Classic.
Madness, VAR, and a Red Card
From the 80th minute, we panicked. Lyon started dominating, and then came the moment: Tolisso tripped Yoro—a clip—but VAR didn’t check it. Because it was a second yellow, apparently it’s not reviewable. So, Tolisso walked. 88th minute. Lyon down to 10. You’d think that would help. But again—this is United. Nothing’s ever simple.
FT: 2-2. Onto extra time.
Cherki Show & The Lyon Surge
First 15 of ET felt even, but then Lyon—with 10 men—scored a beauty. Outside the box, bottom right corner, clinical. Ryan Cherki. Yes, the same guy I wrote about in the last weeks. People said he was invisible—I disagree. That’s how he plays: precise, clever, effective. And that goal was cold. 2-3 Lyon.
Then, disaster: Luke Shaw mistimes a tackle. Penalty. Lacazette buries it. 2-4. Down two. At home. Against 10. Game over?
Resurrection
Then VAR stepped in. Casemiro got kicked on—clear penalty. Took them three minutes to confirm it, but Bruno slotted it in. 3-4. Hope. Belief. 113th minute.
Now it was our chaos. Pressing like mad, every cross felt like the one. At 119 minutes, Casemiro slices a low ball into the box. Mainoo—doing Mainoo things—cuts it right with his right foot and buries it. 4-4. Aggregate 6-6. Penalties on the way?
Not with this team.
Maguire my Striker
120+ minutes. Final attack. Casemiro again, now casually playing as the #10, whips a soft diagonal to Maguire—who’s up top playing false 9. No joke. Maguire rises, heads it in at the far post. Scenes. 5-4. 7-6 on aggregate. Onana sprints to Amorim to celebrate—gets kicked in the back playfully like, “Game’s not done yet.”
We defended the last few minutes like warriors. Final whistle. Done. One of the wildest European nights in years.
Legends Step Up
MOTM? Casemiro. Three goal involvements in extra time. This is why we bought him. This is what “mentality” looks like.
Yoro was brilliant again—progressive, brave, composed. Yeah, we conceded four, but he still stood out. Mainoo’s clutch, Bruno’s a machine, and the negatives? I’ll skip them. Tonight was special.
Late But Worth It
I’m writing this on Sunday. We’ve already played and lost to Wolves since, but I don’t care. I’ve been replaying this game all weekend, and Europa is the only thing that matters.
This was the kind of match that reminds you why you support United.
Pure chaos. Pure theatre. Pure United. GGMU.
UNITED SCRIPTED. 
Leave a comment