Harry Maguire rescued a dramatic draw for 10-man Manchester United after they had surrendered a two-goal lead – and had Bruno Fernandes sent off – at Porto in the Europa League.
The injury-time effort could prove priceless for under-pressure manager Erik ten Hag, whose side were moments away from their fourth loss in 10 games to start the season.
Instead, substitute Maguire rose highest to meet Christian Eriksen’s corner and headed superbly into the bottom corner in the first of five added minutes.
It was a thrilling conclusion to a chaotic encounter at Estadio do Dragao.
Marcus Rashford had given United a seventh-minute lead, driving in from the left, cleverly beating two defenders before his tame near-post shot squirmed past Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa.
Rasmus Hojlund, starting his first game of the campaign, finished off a swift United attack to double the lead on 20 minutes and put his side in control.
But Porto came roaring back.
After a Joao Mario cross was nearly headed into his own net by Noussair Mazraoui, Brazil winger Pepe reacted quickest to nod home in the rebound.
Just 14 minutes after United had gone 2-0 up, the hosts were level as Joao Mario’s cross was headed in powerfully by Samu Omorodion.
The Spanish striker then completed the turnaround five minutes after the break with a thumping near-post finish from Pepe’s cutback after the United defence had been sliced open again.
Ten Hag’s men pushed for an equaliser but things only got worse when captain Fernandes was sent off for the second successive game for a second yellow card – both for a high boot – with nine minutes left.
While his red in the dismal 3-0 loss at home to Tottenham was overturned upon appeal, there was little doubt about this one.
Porto could have added to their lead with the away side, even down to 10 men, forced to throw players forward, but failed to make them count and were punished by Maguire’s late header.
Despite salvaging something from the game, United have won only three of their first 10 matches of the season and, for the fourth European away game in a row, they failed to win despite having scored three goals.
