Maguire & Onana Propel Man United to Champions League Win

 Maguire & Onana Propel Man United to Champions League Win

Harry Maguire and Christian Eriksen of Manchester United celebrate with Andre Onana after his last minute penalty save during the UEFA Champions League match between Manchester United and F.C. Copenhagen at Old Trafford on October 24, 2023 in Manchester, England(Image-Getty)

In a gripping display, Harry Maguire's decisive header and an impressive penalty save by goalkeeper Andre Onana propelled Manchester United to a hard-fought 1-0 victory over FC Copenhagen on Tuesday, marking their first Champions League win this season.

United's manager, Erik ten Hag, expressed his delight, emphasizing the thrilling nature of the win and praising Onana's remarkable last-minute save, which secured the crucial victory for the team.

After a one-year hiatus, Ten Hag's squad secured an essential three points, propelling them to the third spot in Group A, while Bayern Munich leads the group with nine points after defeating Galatasary 3-1 earlier.

The match seemed to hang in the balance when Copenhagen's Jordan Larsson stepped up for a penalty in the 94th minute, but Onana's acrobatic dive to the left denied the opposition, sparking jubilant celebrations among the United players.

Amidst the triumph, Maguire, who has faced criticism from fans recently, reflected on his goal and expressed gratitude for the support he received from the Old Trafford faithful, highlighting his determination to contribute positively to the team's resurgence.

The evening began on a somber note, with a touching tribute to the late club legend Bobby Charlton, yet concluded with jubilation as fans paid tribute to the iconic figure.

United's last Champions League victory dated back to November 23, 2021, with a 2-0 away win at Villarreal.

Despite a slow start and initial struggles marked by errant passes and missed tackles, United demonstrated resilience in the second half, creating several near-scoring opportunities, including Marcus Rashford's near miss and Alejandro Garnacho's thrilling chance that was thwarted by Copenhagen's goalkeeper.

Reflecting on the match, Copenhagen manager Jacob Neestrup acknowledged his team's valiant effort, emphasizing their ability to keep the game competitive until the final moments. United is set to face Copenhagen once more on November 8.