Bruno Fernandes scored a stoppage-time winner for Manchester United as they beat Rangers 2-1 at Old Trafford despite Cyriel Dessersโ late equaliser.
The Rangers forward had looked to have secured a point for the Scottish club in the 88th minute when he sensationally bested Harry Maguire to score a beautiful goal and cancel out Jack Butland’s earlier own goal but Fernandes then volleyed in superbly to secure victory.
The points move United up to fourth in the league phase. For all their Premier League struggles, Ruben Amorim’s side are unbeaten after seven fixtures in Europe and a result away to Steaua Bucharest next week will ensure a top-eight finish that bypasses the play-off round. Rangers, now 13th, look almost sure to be in it.
How it happened
It was Butland, a boyhood United supporter, who had looked to have provided the game’s defining moment when he punched Christian Eriksen’s corner into his own net early in the second half to seemingly undermine his side’s spirited resistance.
But Rangers, who had the better chances in the first half despite Matthijs de Ligt having a goal disallowed, kept pushing for an equaliser. They found it through Dessers’ dramatic finish to the delight of the vocal away support but there was a twist.
Amorim’s comments at the weekend about this being the worst-ever United team had put the spotlight on the players but United showed character to find the winner. Lisandro Martinez’s angled ball found its way to the captain, who made no mistake. (SkySports)