Joshua Zirkzee struck late in regular time but Rayan Cherki hit back even later in stoppage time to make it 2-2 and put Lyon level with Manchester United after 90 minutes of their Europa League quarterfinal tie on Thursday.
MORE — Full Europa League quarterfinal schedule, details
Man United goalkeeper Andre Onana will have to shoulder most of the blame for both goals conceded, especially the late equalizer. Lyon went ahead in the 26th minute when Thiago Almada sent a curling free kick into the penalty area. None of the Lyon attackers or Man United defenders got a touch on the ball, as it came down and hit the ground three yards in front of goal. Onana was seemingly in perfect position to deal with it, but the ball bounced on by and into the back of the net.
Leny Yoro made it 1-1 in first-half stoppage time after Bruno Fernandes’s free kick was initially punched away by Lucas Perri but immediately recirculated into the penalty area by Manuel Ugarte. It was 1-1 until the 88th minute and it was Fernandes, as it almost always is, that made it happen for Man United. The Portuguese playmaker picked the ball up on the edge of Lyon’s penalty area and clipped a floating cross to the back post for Zirkzee to run onto and head home for what appeared to be a late (and mostly deserved) winner.
Alas, Onana was in for one more disappointing moment in the 95th minute. Georges Mikautadze hit a shot right at him from 15 yards out, and perhaps Onana didn’t see it until late as the ball traveled through a sea of bodies, but he couldn’t hold it and spilled it a couple yards in front of him still inside the six-yard box. Cherki read it perfectly, pounced and put away the rebound to send the home crowd into delirium.
Player ratings - Lyon vs Manchester United
What’s next?
- Newcastle vs Manchester United — Sunday, 11:30 am ET
- Auxerre vs Lyon — Sunday, 2:45 pm ET
- Manchester United vs Lyon — Thursday, April 17, 3 pm ET (second leg)
How to watch Lyon vs Manchester United live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 3pm ET Thursday (April 10)
Venue: Parc Olympique Lyonnais — Lyon
TV/Streaming: Paramount+
Lyon vs Manchester United live updates - by Andy Edwards
Lyon vs Manchester United final score: 2-2
Goalscorers: Thiago Almada (25'), Leny Yoro (45'+5), Joshua Zirkzee (88'), Rayan Cherki (90'+5)
GOAL! Lyon 2-2 Man United: Cherki cleans up after Onana spills in stoppage time (90'+6)
88': Lyon 1-2 Man Utd
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 10, 2025
95': Lyon 2-2 Man Utd
A WILD FINISH IN FRANCE 😱 pic.twitter.com/z64o7Z2aqU
GOAL! Lyon 1-2 Man United: Zirkzee gets on the end of Bruno’s cross (88')
88': Lyon 1-2 Man Utd
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 10, 2025
95': Lyon 2-2 Man Utd
A WILD FINISH IN FRANCE 😱 pic.twitter.com/z64o7Z2aqU
GOAL! Lyon 1-1 Man United: Ugarte sends it back in, Yoro heads it home (45'+5)
19-year-old Leny Yoro sparks life into Manchester United with his first goal for the club 💥💪 pic.twitter.com/CQ6W58h6Ch
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 10, 2025
GOAL! Lyon 1-0 Man United: Almada’s free kick never gets touched and goes in (25')
FORMER MLS STAR THIAGO ALMADA'S FIRST EUROPEAN GOAL COMES AGAINST MANCHESTER UNITED 🎯 pic.twitter.com/7fqxMch3Ub
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 10, 2025
Lyon starting lineup
Perri - Maitland-Niles, Mata, Niakhate, Tagliafico - Akouokou, Tolisso, Veretout - Cherki, Almada, Mikautadze
Manchester United starting lineup
Onana - Mazraoui, Maguire, Yoro - Dalot, Casemiro, Ugarte, Dorgu - Fernandes, Garnacho, Hojlund
Speaking ahead of Thursday’s first leg in Lyon, Andre Onana has drawn the ire of Lyon midfielder Nemanja Matic. Onana said that United were “way better” than their French opponents, inspiring Matic to take a shot at the keeper.
“If you’re one of the worst goalkeepers in Manchester United’s history then you need to take care of what you are talking about,” Matic said, via Sky Sports. “If David De Gea, Peter Schmeichel or Edwin van der Sar said that I would question myself but if you are statistically one of the worst goalkeepers in Manchester United’s modern history, he needs to show that before he says it.”
Onana’s response? “At least I’ve lifted trophies with the greatest club in the world. Some can’t say the same.”
Onana won last year’s FA Cup with United. Matic won plenty with Chelsea, but nothing with United.
As for the game, United are on a mini-revival after just one defeat in nine games in all competitions (in normal time). They’ve been far from impressive but Bruno Fernandes is doing his best to hold things together and create chances, while United’s defense has improved as they drew 0-0 at home against Manchester City in the derby on Sunday. It’s still not great in the Premier League as they sit in the bottom half of the table but they’ve been pretty decent in the Europa League all season long and this competition is their ticket back to the Champions League and European football next season. The pressure is on.
As for Lyon, well, they’ve had a resurgence in the second half of this season as veteran striker and captain Alexandre Lacazette is leading the line and the French giants have been in superb form with eight wins in their last 10 games in all competitions. Paulo Fonseca has overseen a great few months since taking charge in January, but he was handed a nine-month ban after angrily confronting a referee in early March so they’re navigating that. On the pitch, Lyon are in the Champions League hunt in Ligue 1 and could very well end up finishing second in the table behind PSG. But they know they need a decent lead to take with them to Old Trafford for the second leg so they’ll come flying out of the traps in this first leg.
Lyon team news, focus
There are so many familiar names in this Lyon squad and they’ve gelled impressively since Fonseca arrived. Lacazette keeps scoring up top, while Cherki and Almada are real talents in attacking midfield. Matic and Tolisso hold things down in central midfield and are so experienced, while USMNT midfield Tanner Tessmann is a regular contributor. Lyon did suffer a big blow as talented attacker Ernest Nuamah suffered an ACL injury at the weekend against Lille, and they will also be without promising winger Malick Fofana through injury.
Manchester United team news, focus
Injuries have hit United hard all season long and that is something Amorim has dealt with admirably. Defensively they’ve got some key players back in recent weeks as Harry Maguire has been crucial at center back in their 3-4-2-1 formation. De Ligt is struggling with an injury for this game, while Mainoo has a chance of returning and would be a big help off the bench. But United’s attack has looked really sluggish in recent weeks and they need Hojlund, Garnacho and Zirkzee to find some sort of confidence to give them something to take back to Old Trafford for the second leg. Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes are really stepping up in midfield as United aim to end a dismal season on a high.
OUT: Ayden Heaven (leg - MORE), Amad Diallo (ankle - out for season), Luke Shaw (foot), Jonny Evans (lower back), Lisandro Martinez (torn ACL - MORE) | QUESTIONABLE: Matthijs de Ligt (undisclosed), Kobbie Mainoo (undisclosed)
Lyon vs Manchester United prediction
This seems like it will end in a draw, and United will be fine with that. They are struggling to create chances and although they look dangerous from set pieces, Lyon will fancy their chances of scoring on the counter. Lyon 1-1 Manchester United.
