The period of greatest darkness is said to be just before dawn. Did Harry Maguire’s late equalizer transform Manchester United’s 3-0 defeat against Tottenham into this moment? Before that, Erik ten Hag was guiding his team into an increasingly grim situation. Going from a 2-0 lead to a 2-2 tie in just seven minutes during the first half, then conceding a third goal that appeared to seal United’s fate, and finally, Bruno Fernandes received his second red card in two matches. It appeared that Ten Hag’s time in charge was on the verge of disappearing.
Ten Hag’s Houdini Moment
The Dutch manager likes to joke that he is no Harry Potter, but after escaping with a draw, he’s feeling more like Harry Houdini tonight. However, with only one victory in 10 European outings, the pressure is mounting. Tune in to United’s trip to Aston Villa on Sunday for the next episode of the Ten Hag soap opera. Unlike against Spurs, United had a dream start, thanks to Marcus Rashford. He zigzagged in from the left, showcasing his pace and tricks before scoring a fierce shot that slipped under Porto’s goalkeeper Diogo Costa.
Early United Dominance Fades
The 2,500 travelling fans were in a celebratory mood, but the rest of the 50,000-capacity crowd at Estádio do Dragão felt disheartened. The pre-match show featured swirling smoke, lights, epic music, and glittering silver flags, but now Manchester United was gaining momentum while Porto was trying to recover.
Porto Fight Back
Alan Varela took a corner kick from the right, and Rashford chest-controlled and kicked the ball away. It dropped back into United’s area, and Matthijs de Ligt helped to clear it. Lisandro Martínez then made a strong defensive play, blocking Samu Omorodion’s shot after he received the ball and spun 180 degrees before shooting towards André Onana’s goal.
Højlund Makes His Mark
United played well and the excitement increased. Ten Hag had chosen a strong midfield with Casemiro and Christian Eriksen, as Kobbie Mainoo was unavailable and Manuel Ugarte was on the bench. Eriksen, who has been in good form early in the season, made a strong run through the center and made a great pass to Rashford. Rashford, who has also been in good form, then made a great pass to Rasmus Højlund.
The Danish striker made his first start of the season and scored a goal, which once again saw Costa conceding at his near post. Højlund ran to United’s bench to celebrate with David Binningsley, a physio who played a crucial role in his recovery from a hamstring problem.
Porto’s Comeback and United’s Collapse
Could this dominance continue? No. United went back to falling apart, allowing Samu to rise and shoot at Onana. Although the keeper managed to push the ball out, it went straight into Pepê’s path, and he bent down to score. The crowd noise increased once again, and Porto quickly equalized. Once more, it was too simple. Near his own goal, De Ligt awkwardly kicked the ball, sending it spiralling up. His attempt to clear the ball with a header failed, and the possession was passed to João Mário on the right. A lob pass was met by Samu, who headed it in. De Ligt, the closest defender, was once again ineffective.
More Defensive Struggles for United
De Ligt had a tough time. He made a mistake and gave Porto possession, putting United in a difficult position. Their best chance was to attack. Højlund made a strong run down the left and narrowly missed passing to Amad Diallo. Then, both he and Casemiro couldn’t score from close range when the ball came to them. Rashford ended the half with a fast run but hesitated, and the attack was over.
Second Half Changes: Garnacho’s Role
A crucial 45 minutes for Ten Hag’s job prospects began with Rashford being replaced by Alejandro Garnacho due to “rotation” reasons, not for his role in allowing the cross that led to Pepê’s opener, the manager explained.
Porto Continue to Press
Still, United’s fragility persisted as Francisco Moura sprinted down the left side, and Micky van de Ven did the same to help create Spurs’ first goal on Sunday. Moura took a shot, but Onana saved it. Then, things got even worse. This time, Porto attacked down the right side with Pepê, who Martínez couldn’t catch. Pepê crossed the ball, and Samu fired it in. Once again, De Ligt was unable to stop the striker. United were left stunned.
Ugarte, who was bought to prevent attacks, has not been introduced yet. Ten Hag explained that this is because he still needs to be “integrated” into the “team model”. Garnacho, on the left flank, was United’s best hope of finding an equalizer, which seems preposterous considering they were 2-0 up and cruising.
Late Drama: Fernandes Red Card and Maguire’s Redemption
Fernandes was shown a red card for a second yellow due to a high boot. Ten Hag believed this decision was harsh. Shortly after, Maguire scored with a powerful header from a corner kick. Under Ten Hag, Manchester United’s performance seems surreal. Ten Hag, who is very likeable, continues to face challenges.
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