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Despite taking a two-goal lead within 20 minutes, Manchester United barely escaped the Estádio do Dragão with a point thanks to a last-gasp equaliser from Harry Maguire.
Marcus Rashford opened the scoring after a barnstorming run before he turned provider for Rasmus Hojlund, who made his first start of the campaign.
The visitors then decided to sit back and FC Porto took full advantage, scoring twice within seven minutes and they went into the break level.
And the hosts began the second-half as they ended the first-half, on the front foot with United struggling to hold on. Matthijs de Ligt endured a nightmare as Samu Omorodion scored his second of the night and his team’s third.
Bruno second red in a week
Things went from bad to worse for the Red Devils as skipper Bruno Fernandes was shown a second yellow for a high foot inside the box as United went down to 10 men. It was former skipper Maguire who saved Erik ten Hag’s blushes.
As for the Portuguese, this was his second red card in a week, and while the first one against Tottenham Hotspur was rescinded by the FA, the Europa League suspension is likely to stand even though the decision was extremely harsh.
🚨Bruno Fernandes via Instagram.
We are all with you captain ❤️ pic.twitter.com/SGcOyhQ2Us
— AB⚕ (@AbsoluteBruno) October 4, 2024
Apart from the recent card controversy, the 30-year-old has barely managed to affect United’s forward play in a positive manner this season, failing to net in 10 appearances so far this season.
He has been a talisman since his arrival and this is the first time he has had such a barren spell at the club. The player put out an emotional social media statement highlighting his dip in form and the red cards he has seen.
“Tough moment as a team and personally for me, one of the hardest. Almost five years at the club with ups and downs, good and bad moments,” Fernandes wrote.
Emotional Bruno
“Personally, I have always had challenges and adversities throughout my career and something that’s never happened was that I go silent or hide myself from responsibilities in difficult moments.
“I know it sounds cliche and most of you United fans will be tired of it, but no one is more disappointed than myself with my own moment. Even through this moment, I appreciate all of you that had positive messages of belief in me and the team.”
Fernandes has the perfect chance to silence his critics and in the process, possibly extend Ten Hag’s stay at the club, when United face Aston Villa on Sunday in the Premier League.
The former Sporting star’s record against them is impressive, with the attacking midfielder netting seven times in 10 games against the Villans. Hopefully, he can break his duck at Villa Park.
Feature image Carl Recine via Getty Images
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