Onana Blunders Cost Manchester United in Europa League Draw vs Lyon

André Onana two goalkeeping errors, including a fumbled free-kick by Thiago Almada and a weak save leading to Rayan Cherki injury-time equaliser, cost Manchester United a 2-2 draw against Lyon. Despite Joshua Zirkzee late goal, the quarter final tie remains open, with Lyon heading to Old Trafford for the second leg.

As the Europa League clash between Lyon and Manchester United unfolded, it was goalkeeper André Onana’s errors that dominated the storyline in a dramatic 2-2 draw. Onana, already in a public spat with Nemanja Matic over his credentials, committed two costly mistakes—first letting a Thiago Almada free-kick bounce past him, and later gifting Rayan Cherki a 94th-minute equaliser by pushing Corentin Tolisso’s shot directly into his path.

Joshua Zirkzee had earlier given United an 88th-minute lead, heading in Bruno Fernandes’s cross after Leny Yoro had leveled the game following Almada’s opener. Onana’s nightmare performance came after he had bragged about his silverware with United, provoking criticism from Matic, who labeled him one of the club’s worst goalkeepers.

Despite moments of attacking promise, including efforts from Fernandes and Alejandro Garnacho, United were under constant pressure. Lyon exploited Diogo Dalot's defensive lapses, with Georges Mikautadze threatening multiple times. The atmosphere at the Groupama Stadium was intense, with flares, firecrackers, and vocal fans targeting Onana.

The draw leaves the quarter-final tie finely poised heading into the second leg at Old Trafford, but with United’s inconsistency and Onana’s shaky form, their hopes of advancing hang in the balance.