Harry Maguire (left) celebrates with Andre Onana (inexperienced) after the goalkeeper saved a penalty throughout the UEFA Champions League match between Manchester United and F.C. Copenhagen at Outdated Trafford on October 24, 2023 in Manchester, England.
| Picture Credit score: Getty Pictures
An evening of remembrance for Bobby Charlton became an evening of redemption for Harry Maguire and Andre Onana.
Two of Manchester United’s most maligned gamers this season got here to the rescue Tuesday with huge second-half moments in a 1-0 win over FC Copenhagen that ignited the English workforce’s qualification hopes within the Champions League.
There have been boos inside Outdated Trafford at halftime of the primary match on the stadium because the loss of life of Charlton on Saturday, with United’s gamers unable to make use of feelings stirred by the reminiscence of the membership nice to make any headway towards the group outsiders from Denmark.
The jeers turned to cheers for Maguire when the oft-maligned heart again headed dwelling a cross from substitute Christian Eriksen within the 72nd minute.
Onana, one other participant below strain within the early stage of this season, preserved the win with a penalty save off the final kick of the sport, clawing away the shot of Jordan Larsson — the son of former United striker Henrik Larsson — that was taken within the seventh minute of stoppage time.
“It was meant to be,” Maguire mentioned. “We had been meant to win the sport — an impressive save and a win devoted to Sir Bobby and his household.”
After back-to-back losses to open Group A, this was an enormous victory for Erik ten Hag’s workforce forward of the return match towards Copenhagen in two weeks.
They’re probably enormous moments, too, for Maguire and Onana.
Maguire’s United profession seemed over when he was stripped of the captaincy within the offseason and appeared near a transfer to West Ham.
Maguire stayed, has continued to get sport time with the England nationwide workforce, and now appears again in Ten Hag’s good books, having began United’s final three video games in all competitions.
It was his first purpose since February 2022 and he seemed emotional after planting his downward header into the web on the far submit.
“I’ve been given a possibility,” Maguire mentioned, “and I wish to assist the workforce and get the membership again to the place it ought to be.”
As for Onana, he arrived below strain to alter United’s fashion of play by means of his distribution from the again. The Cameroon goalkeeper has made a lot of high-profile errors, although, main many to wonder if United was proper to dispense of long-time keeper David de Gea.
This was arguably Onana’s finest sport for United, marked not simply by the penalty save after Scott McTominay’s foul on Mohamed Elyounoussi however by his fantastic flying cease to maintain out Lukas Lerager’s highly effective drive within the fiftieth minute.
The night started and ended with chants of “There’s just one Bobby Charlton” swirling round Outdated Trafford as followers paid their respects to considered one of England’s World Cup winners from 1966 who’s extensively thought of United’s biggest participant.
There have been pre-match tributes to Charlton, together with Ten Hag laying a wreath within the heart circle earlier than an impeccably noticed minute’s silence.
“Shedding somebody like Sir Bobby, it impacts the membership and the dressing room,” Maguire. “However actually happy we might get the win tonight.”
