Harry Maguire’s stoppage-time header rescued a degree for Manchester United in Porto as they recovered from a shocking collapse to attract 3-3 within the Europa League regardless of Bruno Fernandes being despatched off for the second recreation working.
United threw away an early two-goal lead after strikes from Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund and seemed on track to have a nightmare night when Fernandes, despatched off in opposition to Tottenham, was given a second reserving for a excessive foot 9 minutes from time.
Porto struck twice within the house of seven minutes to go in degree on the break as United wilted in Europe as soon as once more. Pepe poked in on the again put up earlier than Samu Omorodion, who almost joined Chelsea in the summertime, outmuscled Matthijs De Ligt to energy in a header.
Rashford, the first-half’s finest participant, was taken off at half-time for “rotation”, Ten Hag mentioned afterwards, leaving United blunt in assault, though he later advised it was due to his defensive frailties.
Porto solely wanted 5 minutes after the restart to go forward, Omorodion besting De Ligt once more earlier than scoring emphatically into the roof of the online. United escaped with a degree on the demise due to Maguire who nodded in Christian Eriksen’s nook.
United, winless in 4 video games, stay within the knockout play-off spots in twenty first after two attracts. Porto are additionally simply in the identical bracket in twenty fourth after claiming their first level within the new Europa League format.
Ten Hag requested followers for endurance as soon as once more after the sport, telling TNT Sports activities: “We will get there. Don’t judge us in this moment, judge us at the end of the season. We are in the process, we will improve.”
United bosses backed Ten Hag after humiliation in opposition to Tottenham, however the nature of this efficiency solely provides to the strain on the supervisor. A tricky journey to Aston Villa awaits on Sunday – reside on Sky Sports activities.
Ten Hag’s Rashford choice backfires
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The Instances’ Charlotte Duncker discusses why she believes Erik Ten Hag acquired it ‘actually unsuitable’ with taking off Marcus Rashford
Ten Hag didn’t study his lesson from resting Rashford at Crystal Palace for final month’s stalemate simply when he was discovering kind and it price him in Porto.
Rashford was the star flip for United within the first half, scoring and aiding, so it was a shock to see him being changed by Alejandro Garnacho earlier than the restart.
“We have to rotate,” Ten Hag instructed TNT Sports activities, requested concerning the choice. “We didn’t start Garnacho, but he had a great game not only Sunday but the whole season.
“We go shortly with a turnaround to Villa they usually have had a day longer to get well and now we have an away recreation.”
Rashford had been the supply of United’s finest attacking moments within the first half and completed with a game-high eight touches within the opposition field regardless of taking part in solely 45 minutes.
The ahead’s loss was felt within the second half as Garnacho struggled in opposition to Porto right-back Joao Mario, who Rashford appeared to have the beating of.
Going the opposite approach, the 26-year-old was much less convincing. It was Joao Mario that delivered the cross for Porto’s first objective, Rashford watching on just a few yards again. Ten Hag later advised this might need been behind the change.
Requested if the choice had something to do with Rashford’s function in Porto’s first objective, Ten Hag mentioned: “As I say, I have to watch it back and I think over the left side definitely we didn’t defend well tonight.
“Marcus additionally performed an element on this however, as I say, it needed to do with Garnacho and nothing in opposition to Rashy.”
For a manager under so much pressure right now, removing your best attacking player with the game level seems a perplexing decision. It appears to have backfired. Villa on Sunday becomes an even bigger game as a result.
Man Utd crumble in Europe again
Manchester United as soon as once more shipped two targets in fast succession in Europe
The seven-minute collapse that led to Porto overturning the early two-goal deficit felt acquainted for United in Europe. It was a typical incidence in final season’s disastrous Champions League marketing campaign that resulted in them ending backside of their group.
Ten Hag’s facet conceded two targets in 4 minutes at Bayern Munich and Copenhagen, after which twice inside 10 minutes dwelling and away in opposition to Galatasaray. A yr has handed, with 5 signings made for greater than £200m, however the identical chaotic crew stays.
As soon as Pepe scored Porto’s first, on the rebound after Andre Onana saved out Noussair Mazraoui’s inadvertent header, it solely felt a matter of time earlier than the equaliser adopted.
These are the regarding traits of the crew that Ten Hag can not conceal from, no matter his trophy return or the end result of the sport. That is an unsustainable type of soccer.
This can be a crew that by no means seems secure, even with a two-goal lead.
Ten Hag: Do not choose us now
Ten Hag instructed TNT Sports activities after the sport: “We started very good, we dominated, scored two goals then we lost control.
“The beginning was good, the center was not good then we completed superb. It is a powerful place to go, we’re getting back from 3-2 and we get the equaliser. The crew has a powerful character, however the center half now we have to enhance.
“We need to be better on the ball, keep switching. We had good players, a good plan. We have to defend better. We had three clean sheets not a long time ago so we can defend very good, but we have to go back to those habits.”
He added: “We will get there. Don’t judge us in this moment, judge us at the end of the season. We are in the process, we will improve. We have had two seasons where we have reached finals, we will continue and fight.
“You see the spirit and the connection between the employees and the crew. The gamers are collectively, they’ve a powerful spirit they usually wish to obtain. We now have a superb mentality however in some defending elements now we have to step up.”
What could have been for Chelsea – Omorodion looks a star
Samu Omorodion scored twice in opposition to Man Utd
Maguire was solely on the pitch for his objective, it appeared, as a result of De Ligt and Lisandro Martinez had endured such a torrid night making an attempt to cope with Omorodion. They have been misplaced.
This was a efficiency that introduced the 20-year-old on the European stage. He now has seven targets in his final 5 video games and Porto seem to have a gem on their arms.
Omorodion was a menace from begin to end and tormented De Ligt, contemporary from a tough show in opposition to Spurs, with each his targets coming when up in opposition to the Netherlands defender.
Chelsea handed up on the possibility to signal Omorodion from Atletico Madrid in the summertime after contractual points held up the switch. They turned to Joao Felix as a substitute because the participant to unlock Conor Gallagher’s transfer to the Spanish capital.
There could also be just a few wistful onlookers at Stamford Bridge now.
