Bruno Fernandes scored a stoppage-time winner for Manchester United as they beat Rangers 2-1 at Old Trafford despite Cyriel Dessers’ late equaliser.
The Rangers forward had looked to have secured a point for the Scottish club in the 88th minute when he sensationally bested Harry Maguire to score a beautiful goal and cancel out Jack Butland’s earlier own goal but Fernandes then volleyed in superbly to secure victory.
The points move United up to fourth in the league phase. For all their Premier League struggles, Ruben Amorim’s side are unbeaten after seven fixtures in Europe and a result away to Steaua Bucharest next week will ensure a top-eight finish that bypasses the play-off round. Rangers, now 14th, look almost sure to be in it.
How it happened
It was Butland, a boyhood United supporter, who had looked to have provided the game’s defining moment when he punched Christian Eriksen’s corner into his own net early in the second half to seemingly undermine his side’s spirited resistance.
Jack Butland’s own goal gave Manchester United the lead
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Kris Boyd reacts to Jack Butland’s howler
But Rangers, who had the better chances in the first half despite Matthijs de Ligt having a goal disallowed, kept pushing for an equaliser. They found it through Dessers’ dramatic finish to the delight of the vocal away support but there was a twist.
Cyriel Dessers thought he had secured a point for Rangers
Amorim’s comments at the weekend about this being the worst-ever United team had put the spotlight on the players but United showed character to find the winner. Lisandro Martinez’s angled ball found its way to the captain, who made no mistake.
It was cruel on Rangers but it was also a much-needed magical moment at Old Trafford for a team that had lost four of their previous five games inside this stadium. Far from convincing, of course. But still capable of making this old stadium roar with delight.
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It was joy to despair for Kris Boyd as he watched Man Utd get a late winner against Rangers
Amorim: It was a good victory
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim speaking to TNT Sports:
“We played well. There was more connection with the ball, good speed.
“We lost control of the game for seven minutes because of small, bad decisions. Even when we suffered Rangers’ goal, we were so near to the second goal and missed so many chances. But we recovered and it was a good victory.
“We are not playing our best, we are far from that, but we improved from the last game.
“The opponent is different, the speed is different, everything is different. But they tried, you can see it again. The connections, the movement, some play and we did well for the time we’ve had to train.
“We need to be more clinical in the right moments. That can help us a lot.”
De Ligt and Yoro injury concerns
De Ligt was removed at half-time and Leny Yoro was also substituted early in the second half, with Amorim revealing that both defenders had come off because of injury concerns.
“Matthijs De Ligt felt something in his leg, as did Leny Yoro. We can’t risk anything.
“I know we have to win, but we have to show the players that everybody matters.”
