Europa League

SIR ALEX FERGUSON snubbed Manchester United’s draw with Porto on Thursday night.The legendary Red Devils manager chose to watch another Europa League clash instead.Sir Alex Ferguson snubbed Manchester United for another Europa League clashCredit: PAThe Red Devils travelled to Portugal to face Porto on Thursday nightCredit: AlamyUnited travelled to Portugal for their second league phase fixture following last week’s draw with Twente.However, their 13-time Premier League-winning former boss was not in attendance for their thrilling 3-3 draw in Portugal.While his old club took on the 2004 Champions League winners, Ferguson watched on as Rangers faced Lyon at Ibrox.The 82-year-old was pictured in the stands at Glasgow during a frantic first half as Lyon took the lead inside 10 minutes.READ MORE ON MAN UTDRangers pegged them back just four minutes later, though, thanks to Tom Lawrence’s equaliser.The visitors regained their advantage after former Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette found the back of the net before he grabbed another in stoppage time.Phillippe Clement’s side won their opening match last week away to Swedish side Malmo.FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSMeanwhile, Lyon were also victorious at home to Conference League winners Olympiacos.Most read in Europa LeagueThe French side were victorious once again on Thursday, winning 4-1 after Fofana scored again during the second half.Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt agree on Sir Alex Ferguson’s most ruthless player axing at Man UtdUnited are set to host Rangers at Old Trafford on matchday seven in January.Ferguson has previously been a regular at United matches since leaving the dugout.He retired in 2013 after almost 27 years as manager, during which time he won 38 major trophies including the treble in 1999.His absence on Thursday comes after he reportedly recommended Massimiliano Allegri to replace Erik ten Hag as manager.The Dutchman has been under mounting pressure after Sunday’s defeat to Tottenham and Ferguson has chosen his successor.Allegri, who won five Serie A titles with Juventus, has been out of work since leaving the Italian giants in May.Lyon and Rangers traded three goals during the opening 20 minutes at IbroxCredit: PA More

MANCHESTER UNITED fans taunted Porto keeper Diogo Costa for his incredible blunders – and gasped with relief at NOT signing him. Costa fumbled in shots from Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund to leave United 2-0 up early in a thrilling 3-3 Europa League draw.Costa failed to keep out a mediocre low shot from Rasmus HojlundHojlund’s effort went in off Costa’s arm to double United’s leadCredit: ReutersOne Red Devils supporter labelled the Portugal stopper a “double agent”.Costa was linked with United, albeit mainly before they instead signed Inter Milan No1 Andre Onana in July 2023.And this summer there was talk of interest in the 25-year-old from Chelsea. But Costa might find himself veering off the Premier League radar after this display.READ MORE ON MAN UTDRashford weaved inside brilliantly on seven minutes but his low effort should never have crept in under the keeper at the near post.And worse was to follow for Costa midway through the opening period.Another slick United break ended in Hojlund surging into a similar position – with Costa’s arm deflecting the ball in to virtually the same place as Rashford’s strike.Amazingly, headers from Pepe and Samu Omorodion brought the tie level by the 34th minute.Most read in Europa LeagueFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSBut the turnaround didn’t save Costa from a battering on social media.One fan joked: “SIGN HIM UP, I think the Porto fans would drive him free of charge.”Ex-Man Utd goalkeeper Howard criticised the club’s summer recruitment after losing against Spurs A second wrote: “Two near post finishes that Diogo Costa should’ve dealt with better. He’s playing against Porto at this point.”And a third mocked the reputation of the 29-cap ace.He posted: “That’s the world class Diogo Costa in goal for Porto right?”Omorodion went on to sneak Porto 3-2 up.But despite Bruno Fernandes seeing red for two bookings, Harry Maguire rescued United with a booming header in stoppage time.Marcus Rashford weaved in brilliantly but Costa should have kept his shot outCredit: ReutersDiogo Costa was in the thick of the action for unwanted reasonsCredit: Reuters More

TOTTENHAM got their teenage kicks in Budapest – with 17-year-old sensation Mikey Moore the star of the show.Ange Postecoglou opted to start FOUR teenagers including 19-year-old debutant Will Lankshear, 18-year-old pair Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall, as well as Moore.Papa Mater Sarr opened the scoring for TottenhamCredit: ReutersThe breakthrough came midway through the first halfCredit: RexBrennan Johnson added a second off the benchCredit: RexIt means Tottenham have two wins from two Europa League gamesCredit: RexMikey Moore starred for Tottenham in BudapestIt was the latter starlet who shone brightest on what was his first start, playing a key role in Pape Matar Sarr’s opener.Sub Brennan Johnson added to it late on and though the hosts grabbed a late one back through Barnabas Varga, Spurs held on for three points.James Maddison had branded Moore’s potential as “scary” on Wednesday.The youngster certainly showed no fear here and summed up why many in N17 feel he is the most exciting player to come out of Tottenham’s academy since Harry Kane.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLHis display helped deliver only Spurs’ second away win in their last ten European games.And it meant Dominic Solanke was only needed for nine minutes as a late sub on the day he was recalled to the England squad.Ferencvaros’ Dutch boss Pascal Jansen was born in London and used to follow Spurs because they played in white.Both teams were playing in green here though, as Spurs had been turned down by Uefa in their request to play in their blue second strip due to it clashing with the hosts’ green-and-white stripes.Most read in Europa LeagueCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSAnge Postecoglou fielded a young team in Hungary including Mikey MooreCredit: RexTeenager Will Lankshear also started for SpursCredit: RexIn truth it seemed the right call as Spurs’ emerald shirts were visibly different.What was crystal clear from the off was what a talent young Moore is.’We are MAD’ – Ten Hag tells raging Man Utd flops to channel anger of Tottenham humiliation into must-win Porto clashThe forward, who only turned 17 in August, wore his socks low a la Jack Grealish and like so many youngsters seem to these days.He backed up the bold look with a confident performance, always wanting the ball and causing problems with his nimble dribbles in-field.One particular dangerous delivery across the six-yard area deserved better but no team-mate was there to tap it home.His good pal Lankshear probably should have put Spurs ahead inside 12 minutes when rising to a superb Timo Werner cross, but the 19-year-old fired over with a combination of his head and shoulder.It was an entertaining game, as all Spurs matches in the Postecoglou tend to be.But this being the Aussie’s open Tottenham, there were plenty of chances for the opposition too and Ferencvaros had the ball in the net on 16 minutes.Varga, the Hungarian striker who suffered a sickening collision against Scotland at the Euros, headed home but it was ruled offside.Guglielmo Vicario had to be at his very best to deny Varga moments later, though it would likely not have counted again due to an offside.A clever flick from Lankshear set Moore away down the right shortly afterwards, and the teen sensation was then clattered into by Eldar Civic who was booked.Spurs grabbed the lead midway through the first half and again Moore and Lankshear were involved.The former ran infield and clipped a ball through to his striker pal.Ferencvaros should have dealt with it but somehow the ball fell loose in their area, allowing a gleeful Sarr to fire home his second goal in as many Europa League games.Ben Davies, the wise old head among the kids, came close to hooking home a Cristian Romero header soon after, before Porro struck a post with his weaker left foot.Ferencvaros have an issue with fans letting off flares at matches and it happened here at half-time, with the game having to be halted briefly at one point for the smoke to clear.Vicario kept his laser focus though as he pushed away Matheus Saldanha’s goal-bound effort.Moore was not the only teenager impressing, as Gray, signed for £40million from Leeds in the summer, caught the eye with his calmness under pressure.At one point the 18-year-old was being backed into the far corner with no options – apart from the clever backheel flick he successfully pulled off.Lankshear was inches away from a debut goal when volleying Porro’s corner into the ground and just over.Fans will be wondering if Werner will ever score again as he wasted yet another golden opportunity when Moore played him in, but after rounding the keeper, the luckless German fired into the side-netting.It would prove to be his last action as Postecoglou made a triple sub yet kept Moore on, summing up the whizkid’s impact.A brilliant flick from one of the subs, Dejan Kulusevski, set Gray away to tee up Johnson but the man who cannot miss at the moment struck the crossbar.READ MORE SUN STORIESThe Wales star showed he had not lost his midas touch though as with a few minutes remaining, he fired in off the post for his fifth goal in as many games.It looked like game over but Varga’s fine near-post volley on the stretch added some late drama, which Postecoglou’s young side managed to see off. 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TOTTENHAM’S clash at Ferencvaros was halted – when players were unable to see each other after fans hurled smoke flares on.Referee Igor Pajac signalled he couldn’t see all the pitch in a farcical fume-filled situation early in the second half of the Europa League tie.The action clearly couldn’t go on when smoke filled the pitchA murky view swept across the stadium in BudapestConditions briefly became ridiculous in the Europa League clashSmoke from flares quickly drifted across the pitchCredit: ReutersAnd Pajac ordered a brief halt to proceedings – until the air cleared.Spurs were leading through Pape Matar Sarr’s fine goal on 23 minutes.And it was Sarr who was at the centre of things again – but for a bizarre reason – four minutes after the break. The Senegal midfielder was unable to clearly identify 17-year-old team-mate Mikey Moore as smoke swept across the field in Budapest. Pajac and players from both teams were bemused – with play promptly halted.It cleared within a minute – with Spurs left to continue a testing tie.However, bemused fans found mirth from the murky interlude.One joked: “Better atmosphere than the Premier League stadiums.”Most read in Europa LeagueReferee Igor Pajac’s face said it allFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSAnother posted: “Spectacular better than watching Arsenal match to be honest.”A third just said: “What is going on here.”Fans stunned as Arne Slot ‘cooks’ Man Utd with savage statement after Red Devils’ Tottenham humiliationAnd more than one viewer called it “crazy”.But although football chiefs might take a dim view of the incident, one fan claimed it was “amazingly fun”.Brennan Johnson then notched a clinical fifth goal in five matches to double Spurs’ lead in the 86th minute.But Ferencvaros cut the deficit to 2-1 through Barnabas Varga’s volley. More