Harry Maguire admitted there was contact as he duelled with Lyon’s Moussa Niakhate before nodding home Manchester United‘s winner – only to wait for VAR to confirm the goal as they checked for a potential foul.
Maguire’s header was United’s third goal in eight minutes as they completed a remarkable comeback to down Lyon and advance into the semi-finals of the Europa League. Their centre-half became a makeshift striker as they sought to rescue the game at Old Trafford.
United led 2-0, then trailed 4-2 in extra-time as they faced the prospect of an embarrassing European exit against Lyon, who had ten men. Bruno Fernandes gave them hope, Kobbie Mainoo equalised and then Maguire came up with the winning goal.
He was able to nod home despite Niakhate being in close proximity and the Lyon defender went down, protesting a foul, with those on VAR reviewing it amid the crazy scenes. They eventually awarded the goal with Maguire always confident he’d done nothing wrong.
He told TNT Sports: “Yes definitely, the fourth goal for them was a sucker punch, but as soon as we got the fourth I felt like there was going to be another chance and obviously it fell to myself and luckily I put it in the back of the net and it was an amazing feeling.
“I think he was back pedalling and I think I just held him there with my left hand, there was contact obviously, but I don’t think there was anywhere near enough for a foul. I saw it (the ball) all the way and guided it into the corner.”
Ruben Amorim joked that Maguire was thrown into the final third because he was “the only one who can score a header” as the United boss looked for ways to inject goals into his team despite having no prolific goal scorers in his team – or on the bench – on Thursday night.
United have a history of legendary comebacks on the European stage with their final success in 1999 the most famous. Amorim confessed that he believed as soon as Fernandes got them back into the game as their late, late show kept their trophy hopes alive.
“It was a great night, the team was tired and you feel that during the game. 4-2 with one more player and you think its over but here, it is never over. Here everything is possible, you feel the environment. After the penalty I felt that we could change the game.”
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