October 04, (THEWILL) – Manchester United surrendered a two-goal advantage but salvaged a 3-3 draw against Porto through Harry Maguire’s late equaliser in their latest European encounter. The result extends United’s challenging run in continental competitions, where they have now failed to win in four consecutive away fixtures despite scoring three times in each match.
Marcus Rashford delivered an exceptional performance in the opening period, creating the first goal through individual brilliance before setting up Rasmus Højlund for United’s second. The English forward’s impact was particularly noteworthy given his withdrawal at half-time, which significantly altered the match dynamics.
Porto demonstrated remarkable character to overturn their early deficit. The Portuguese side capitalised on precise crosses from João Mario, with Pepê and Samu finding the net to level the proceedings. Samu later completed Porto’s comeback with a clinical finish following excellent work from Nico Gonzalez and Pepê down the right flank.
The match took another dramatic turn when Bruno Fernandes received his second dismissal in consecutive matches, both for dangerous high boots. Despite playing with 10 men, United maintained their competitive spirit and found an equaliser through Maguire, whose powerful header in stoppage time ensured the points were shared.
The result places additional pressure on Erik ten Hag, with Sunday’s English Premier League clash against Aston Villa potentially crucial for his future at Manchester United. The Dutch manager must address his team’s defensive vulnerabilities, having conceded multiple goals in their recent European fixtures.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
