Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner to secure a 2-1 victory over Rangers in a pulsating Europa League group stage clash at Old Trafford on Thursday.
The win propelled United to fourth in the standings with 15 points, leaving them in a commanding position to progress to the knockout phase with one round of matches remaining.
United dominated the opening stages, with Argentine forward Alejandro Garnacho testing Rangers’ defense with a pair of sharp efforts. The hosts thought they had taken the lead when Matthijs de Ligt headed in from a corner, but the goal was ruled out after VAR detected a foul by Leny Yoro on Rangers defender Davy Propper.
Rangers, however, were no pushovers. Hamza Igamane’s long-range attempt forced a stunning save from United goalkeeper Altay Bayındır, showcasing the visitors’ attacking threat.
The breakthrough came shortly after halftime in unexpected fashion. Rangers’ goalkeeper Jack Butland misjudged a corner from Christian Eriksen, inadvertently deflecting the ball into his own net to hand United a 1-0 advantage.
Rangers fought back and found their equalizer just minutes before the final whistle. Substitute Cyril Dessers, capitalizing on James Tavernier’s brilliant through ball, unleashed a superb left-footed strike that flew into the far corner, silencing the home crowd.
The joy for the visitors was short-lived, however. Deep into stoppage time, Fernandes latched onto a loose ball in the box and fired it past Butland, sending the Old Trafford faithful into raptures.
The Portuguese midfielder’s goal ensured United’s fourth consecutive victory in the competition, with legendary former manager Alex Ferguson visibly delighted in the stands.
After the match, United manager Ruben Amorim praised his team’s resilience but acknowledged areas for improvement. “I think we started well and then we lost control of the game because of some bad decisions, but the lads did well,” Amorim told TNT Sports. “We need to be more clinical in the right moments because that can help us a lot.”
The win comes as a boost for United, who have endured inconsistent domestic form. With qualification for the knockout stages in sight, Fernandes and his teammates have laid a strong foundation to keep their European dreams alive.
