MANCHESTER UNITED have beaten Rangers 2-1 to put them within touching distance of the last 16 of the Europa League.
Matthijs de Ligt thought he broke the deadlock with a header from a corner, but he was adjudged to have committed a foul in the build-up.
In the second half, United did get the advantage after former Red Devil Jack Butland misjudged a Christian Eriksen corner and punched the ball into his own net.
Cyriel Dessers’ outstanding touch and finish in the 88th minute looked to have secured the Scottish giants a point, but Man Utd skipper Bruno Fernandes stepped up in stoppage time to take the spoils with a stunning strike.
Man Utd’s fate is in their own hands as they travel to Bucharest to face eighth-placed FCSB in their final league phase match next Thursday.
- Match result: Man Utd 2-1 Rangers
- Man Utd team: Bayindir, De Ligt, Yoro, Martinez, Dalot, Amad, Collyer, Eriksen, Fernandes, Zirkzee, Garnacho
- Rangers team: Butland, Tavernier, Propper, Balogun, Jefte, Barron, Raskin, Ridvan, Bajrami, Cerny, Igamane
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS
Follow our live blog below…
Boss relieved with late victory
Since taking over at Man Utd, more often than not, Ruben Amorim has had to face some awkward questions in his post-match media duties.
You could see a much more upbeat manager this evening as he gave his opinions on tonight’s win.
Amorim seems a passionate person, who speaks his mind, but in the heat of the moment his recent comments about his team have got him into some hot water.
Credit: Getty Rangers facing difficult progress
Defeat this evening has given the visitors the realisation that they are likely to be involved in the two-legged play-offs if they want to progress to the last 16.
They need a lot of results to go their way on the final matchday to stand any chance of sneaking into the top eight.
Their final match will be in front of their own fans as they take on Union Saint-Gilloise next week.
Credit: Getty Red Devils joy over narrow win
You could see from the players’ reactions at the full-time whistle that there was a real relief to win in front of their own fans tonight.
Many of them have experienced the boos and negativity of walking off the pitch after a home defeat.
Amorim will be hoping that his side gain a hunger for this feeling that can see them turn their fortunes around.
Credit: Getty Credit: Getty
Chance to get back on track
The upcoming fixtures for Man Utd suggest an opportunity to put a run of wins together to take pressure off the team and their manager.
On paper, these are all very winnable games.
The Red Devils need to take the positives from this win tonight and use the confidence the late winner gave them as a springboard for the remainder of the campaign.
Time seems to be up for star
Having not played for Man Utd since December. many are wondering where Marcus Rashford’s future lies.
The fact that he was not even included in the matchday squad gives a big indicator that it seems the club want to move him on.
With only a small window to get deals done in January, it remains to be seen if they can find him a new club in that time.
If not, they have quite the dilemma on their hands how they deal with the situation for the remainder of the season.
Frenchman with mixed feelings on result
Speaking with BT Sport, the Rangers manager fronted up the media after their last-gasp defeat at Old Trafford:
Very mixed feelings with me and in the dressing room. I am gutted that we lose as you play games to win. We wanted to do something special here and we came close to doing that. I am pleased with the way the team performed and they stuck to the tactics but I am very disappointed with the result as I felt we deserved the draw. I cannot ask more of my players in what they give today.
Philippe Clement
Fans left wondering about Garnacho future
Coming into this game, much of the talk around Man Utd was the Chelsea interest in signing Alejandro Garnacho.
Rumours are circulating that the club would consider selling the 20-year-old if their valuation was met.
The Argentine seemed to have a hunger and work rate that has been missing all too often in his performances this evening.
Who would have thought, the only motivation he needed was to tell him that his Chelsea move depended on it.
Boss gives thoughts on win
Speaking with BT Sport after the game, Ruben Amorim gave his view on tonight’s win:
I think we did well. We played better with the ball. I think we start well but then we lost control of the game. We are not playing our best, we are far from that but we improved from the last game. The connections, the movement we did well in these moments. We need to be more clinical as that can help us a lot. We are improving but not a perfect performance.
Ruben Amorim
Time to play for the badge, not the wage
While some things certainly went their way this evening, Man Utd need to use this as something to build on.
They dug deep after the setback of conceding late on and grabbed a winner to show some fighting spirit.
It is time for the players now to put in maximum effort in every game and try to make things easier for their manager as he looks to rebuild this team.
Red Devils get out of jail with late goal
More questions would have been asked of this team if they were to have to settle for a draw this evening.
They had been gifted a goal by Butland to take the lead and from that point looked confortable in the game.
Some poor defending by Maguire allowed the visitors to score an equaliser late on.
However, Fernandes grabbed an added-time winner as Old Trafford erupted.
Credit: Getty View from SunSport’s Ken Lawrence at Old Trafford
Hardly a convincing win for United but right now Ruben Amorim will take anything.
Especially when he gets a victory courtesy of a brilliant extra time winner like skipper Bruno Fernandes came up with.
Beat FCSB in Bucharest next Thursday and United will finish in the Europa League’s top eight.
Not a bad night for Ruben in the end at all….
FT: Man Utd 2-1 Rangers
That will be a bitter pill to swallow for Rangers.
Butland’s blunder proves to be costly for Clement’s side.
Man Utd grab a late winner as their captain steps up for the Red Devils.
FT: Man Utd 2-1 Rangers
The referee brings the game to a close.
Fernandes’ strike has secured three points for Man Utd.
A rare win at Old Trafford for Ruben Amorim’s side.
Man Utd 2-1 Rangers
90+4. That will really hurt the visitors.
They had worked so hard to get back into this game.
However, they do say you are most vulnerable to concede just after scoring yourselves.
Man Utd 2-1 Rangers
90+2. Old Trafford erupts as the ball hits the back of the net.
The Rangers’ defence switches off and as a ball is swung into the box, Fernandes ghosts in at the back post.
He drills his shot past Butland to seemingly win the game for the hosts.
Goal – Bruno Fernandes (Man Utd)
Man Utd 1-1 Rangers
90. What a goal by Dessers for Rangers.
Maguire makes a hash of the high ball as he completely misses it.
Dessers takes it out of the air with his first touch and drills it into the far corner with his second.
He has silenced Old Trafford with that strike.
We are going to have five added minutes.
Credit: PA Goal – Cyriel Dessers (Rangers)
Man Utd 1-0 Rangers
88. The referee has made some very questionable decisions tonight.
Dessers seemed to be fouled by Malacia out wide but the referee waves play on.
Garnacho picks the ball up, cuts inside onto his right foot and looks to bend one into the far corner.
Butland gets down well to beat the effort away.
Man Utd 1-0 Rangers
86. This could be an exciting end to the game with such a slender lead for Man Utd.
In reality it should be all about game management for the hosts now.
That is in a perfect world, they have not looked capable of that for some time.
Man Utd 1-0 Rangers
84. Time is running out for the visitors.
A clipped ball over the defence see Dessers run onto it.
He tries to flick it over the advancing Bayindir but it drops wide of the post.
Man Utd 1-0 Rangers
82. Man Utd have another chance to cause problems.
The free-kick is swung in from out wide and Ugarte gets a diving header away.
Butland reacts well to parry it behind for a corner.
Looking at the replay, the Red Devils’ midfielder to direct it straight at the keeper.
Zirkzee is replaced by Hojlund for the hosts.
Man Utd 1-0 Rangers
80. If they cannot find a way back into this game, Rangers will feel hard done by tonight.
Aside from the Butland error, there has been little between the two teams.
On the balance of play, a draw would be a fair result.
Amorim will be hoping his team can use this piece of luck as a platform to build on.
Credit: AFP Man Utd 1-0 Rangers
78. Amad has a good chance to test Butland.
The ball drops to him on the volley on the back post.
He slices his effort well wide of the target.
Man Utd 1-0 Rangers
76. Rangers play a pass in behind the Man Utd defence.
Dessers beats Maguire to it, his pace is an issue for the defender.
However, he manages to shepherd it out for a goal kick although the visitors’ forward felt he was being fouled.
The referee did not agree.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
