Lyon 2-2 Manchester United: Andre Onana's Europa League errors compound tough week after Nemanja Matic criticism
Lyon vs Manchester United
The air in Lyon’s Groupama Stadium was thick with tension on April 10, 2025, as Manchester United faced Olympique Lyonnais in the first leg of their Europa League quarterfinal, a match that ended in a heart-wrenching 2-2 draw, leaving the tie precariously balanced for the return leg at Old Trafford. For United, a club mired in a season of frustration, sitting 13th in the Premier League, this competition represents more than just a shot at silverware—it’s a lifeline, a potential path to Champions League qualification and a chance to salvage pride in a campaign marked by inconsistency. Yet, the night belonged to moments of individual failure as much as collective effort, with goalkeeper André Onana at the center of the storm, his two critical errors gifting Lyon their goals and casting a shadow over United’s performance. The first came midway through the first half, when Onana failed to deal with Thiago Almada’s free-kick, allowing it to slip through his hands and into the net. The second, even more costly, arrived in the final seconds, as Onana spilled Georges Mikautadze’s shot, leaving Rayan Cherki to tap in the equalizer. Sandwiched between Lyon’s strikes were United’s moments of resilience—Leny Yoro’s first goal for the club and Joshua Zirkzee’s late header—but these were overshadowed by the bitter taste of a victory squandered. The match was a microcosm of United’s season: flashes of promise undone by lapses in concentration, a team capable of brilliance yet haunted by fragility. The boos that greeted Onana’s every touch, fueled by pre-match barbs from Lyon’s Nemanja Matić, only amplified the pressure on a goalkeeper whose confidence seemed to waver under the spotlight. As the teams left the pitch, United’s players wore the look of a side that knew they had let a golden opportunity slip, while Lyon celebrated a draw that felt like a triumph, their fans roaring in defiance as they eyed a chance to upset the English giants on their home turf. The stage is now set for a second leg that promises drama, with United’s European dreams hanging by a thread.
Onana’s night began under a cloud, his pre-match comments labeling United “way better” than Lyon drawing a sharp retort from Matić, a former United midfielder now in Lyon’s ranks, who branded him “one of the worst keepers” in the club’s storied history. The Groupama Stadium crowd seized on the feud, jeering Onana from his first touch, their boos a constant reminder of the scrutiny he faced. For the first 25 minutes, he had little to do, United’s defense holding firm against Lyon’s probing attacks. But when Almada stepped up to take a wide free-kick, the moment of truth arrived. The ball curled toward the penalty area, its trajectory deceptive, and Onana hesitated, unsure whether a Lyon player would make contact. He reacted late, diving as the ball bounced just in front of him, its spin and pace catching him off guard. His hands, outstretched, made contact but lacked the strength to divert it, and the ball skidded through, nestling in the net as the stadium erupted. The error was glaring, a goalkeeper’s nightmare played out in front of a hostile crowd, and Onana’s head bowed as he retrieved the ball, the weight of his mistake etched on his face. United’s response was spirited, with Rúben Amorim’s side refusing to crumble. Leny Yoro, the young French defender, restored parity just before halftime, reacting quickest to Manuel Ugarte’s volleyed effort to steer the ball into the bottom corner—a goal that showcased United’s ability to fight back. Yet, the memory of Onana’s blunder lingered, a reminder that even a single lapse could undo their efforts. The second half saw United dominate possession, their organization and motivation evident, but the ghost of that early goal seemed to hover, a warning that Lyon’s threat was never fully extinguished. Onana, for his part, remained under siege, each touch met with derision, each save a small act of redemption that did little to silence the doubters.
The second half unfolded as a tale of United’s potential and their persistent Achilles’ heel: a lack of ruthlessness in front of goal. Rasmus Højlund and Alejandro Garnacho, the young forwards tasked with carrying United’s attack, epitomized the team’s struggles. Højlund, once hailed as a generational talent, has now scored just one goal in his last 25 appearances, his confidence visibly dented as he skewed a first-half chance wide from Patrick Dorgu’s cutback. Garnacho, equally profligate, has one goal in his last 28 games, his second-half strike from another Dorgu cross tipped over by Lyon’s Anthony Lopes. Bruno Fernandes, ever the talisman, saw a shot deflected over, while Casemiro’s overhead kick and later header missed the mark by inches. These were not isolated moments but part of a pattern, a recurring theme in a season where United have created chances but failed to convert them with the conviction of a top side. Amorim, watching from the touchline, cut a figure of quiet intensity, his tactical tweaks—pushing Ugarte higher to disrupt Lyon’s midfield, deploying Dorgu’s pace on the left—showing a team well-drilled yet unable to land the decisive blow. The introduction of Kobbie Mainoo, returning from a muscle injury, added fresh legs, but even his composure couldn’t break the deadlock. When Zirkzee, another substitute, rose to meet Fernandes’ looping cross in the 88th minute, heading it past Lopes, Old Trafford’s dreams seemed within reach. The away end erupted, United’s players embracing as if the tie was theirs. But football, as it so often does, had one final twist to deliver, and it came through Onana’s hands once more.
The equalizer in the dying seconds was a dagger to United’s hearts, a moment that encapsulated their season’s fragility. Lyon, refusing to surrender, launched one last attack, with Mikautadze cutting in from the right. His shot was fierce, struck with venom, but it was straight at Onana—a save any top goalkeeper would expect to make. Yet, the ball squirmed through his grasp, spilling into the path of Cherki, who gleefully tapped it into the open net. The stadium exploded, Lyon’s players mobbing Cherki as United’s collapsed to the turf, disbelief etched on their faces. Onana’s error was his eighth leading to a goal since the start of last season, a statistic that hung like an albatross around his neck. The boos that had followed him all night reached a crescendo, but now they were drowned out by Lyon’s celebrations, their fans sensing a chance to pull off a historic upset. Amorim, in his post-match comments, refused to single out Onana, praising his team’s character while acknowledging the fine margins that had cost them. But the narrative was inescapable: United’s goalkeeper, once signed as the solution to their goalkeeping woes, was now a lightning rod for criticism, his confidence seemingly eroded by the weight of expectation. The second leg looms as a chance for redemption, but also a test of whether Onana can rise above the noise and deliver when it matters most.
Now, United turn their focus to Old Trafford on April 17, where they must overturn this setback to keep their European hopes alive. The Europa League offers a Champions League spot to its winner, a prize that feels like United’s only realistic path back to Europe’s elite. Lyon, buoyed by their late equalizer, will arrive with belief, their blend of youth and experience—Cherki’s flair, Almada’s creativity, Lopes’ defiance—making them a formidable foe. Amorim will demand more from Højlund and Garnacho, hoping their barren runs end in time to tilt the tie. Mainoo’s return offers hope, his composure a potential game-changer, while Fernandes remains the heartbeat of a side that, for all its flaws, showed fight in Lyon. The fans, too, will play their part, Old Trafford’s roar a reminder of what’s at stake. For Onana, the second leg is a crucible, a chance to silence his critics or cement their doubts. United’s season, already teetering, rests on moments like these—moments where heroes are made, or broken.
