Maguire and Onana the heores as Manchester United claim first UEFA Champions League win

Maguire and Onana helped Manchester United to their only win in the group against Copenhagen | Imago

FOOTBALL Maguire and Onana the heores as Manchester United claim first UEFA Champions League win

Maguire and Onana the heores as Manchester United claim first UEFA Champions League win

Ayoola Kelechi • 22:08 - 24.10.2023

Manchester United had unlikely heroes Harry Maguire and Andre Onana to thank for their first UEFA Champions League win of the current campaign

Harry Maguire was the hero for Manchester United as the Red Devils overcame group minnows Copenhagen in a disturbingly difficult tie to claim their first win of the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 season.

The former club captain scored the solitary goal as Manchester United scrapped by, beating Copenhagen 1-0 in the third round of the UEFA Champions League group stage.

Manchester United missed a plethora of chances but also had goalkeeper Andre Onana to thank for making a number of crucial saves which ensured they got all three points at Old Trafford. 

The Cameroonian goalkeeper made a crucial penalty save in the dying minutes of the match to ensure the win for the Red Devils. 

How it happened

Manchester United came into the tie against Copenhagen without a point from their first two UCL matches of the season after losing to both Bayern Munich and Galatasaray.

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The Red Devils were desperate for their first win of the campaign, had the better of the opening exchanges, and could have taken the lead through Rasmus Hojlund and Scott McTominay, who both fluffed early chances.

The Red Devils finally got their breakthrough after several missed chances from Hojlund and McTominay again, as well as Christian Eriksen.

The match-winner came through former club captain Maguire, who towered over Copenhagen’s defence to power a header in for Manchester United’s first goal of the match after 72 minutes.

Maguire then had goalkeeper Onana to thank for ensuring the score stayed the same as he saved a penalty in the 97th minute from Jordan Larsson to become the hero for the Red Devils.

Manchester United’s first win of the current season leaves them on three points from three games, one point behind second-place Galatasaray, and six points away from group leaders Bayern Munich.

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Manchester United Champions League Andre Onana Harry Maguire