Manchester United secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Rangers at Old Trafford on Thursday, with Bruno Fernandes’ stoppage-time winner keeping their Europa League last-16 hopes alive.
The match seemed destined for disappointment for United when Cyriel Dessers equalised for an injury-hit Rangers side in the 88th minute. However, Fernandes rescued the Red Devils with a clinical strike in added time, lifting them to fourth place in the league phase standings.
United now stand a strong chance of securing a direct spot in the last 16 with one match left, while Rangers, who slipped to 13th, face an uphill battle to make the top eight. Despite the loss, Rangers showed resilience under difficult circumstances, with manager Philippe Clement forced to rely on teenage substitutes due to a mounting injury crisis.
The pressure was evident for United after recent criticism, including manager Ruben Amorim’s harsh assessment of the team as “the worst in the club’s history” following a weekend defeat to Brighton. Rangers capitalized on United’s early nervousness, creating the first major opportunity of the game, but Nico Raskin’s effort was denied by Altay Bayindir.
Alejandro Garnacho, linked with a potential transfer to Napoli or Chelsea, had a chance to make his mark but saw a goalbound effort deflected over. United also had a Matthijs de Ligt header controversially disallowed for a foul, with no intervention from VAR.
Amad Diallo, a former Rangers loanee, sought to impress against his old club but found himself largely subdued, aside from a low shot saved by Jack Butland.
Rangers, already struggling with key injuries, suffered further blows as Leon Balogun, Connor Barron, and Vaclav Cerny were forced off. This left Clement to introduce 18-year-olds Bailey Rice and Findlay Curtis, who performed admirably under the circumstances.
The breakthrough came when Rangers’ keeper Butland, a former United player, misjudged a corner from Diallo, punching it into his own net. Despite the advantage, United failed to capitalize as Garnacho struck the post from close range.
Dessers brought Rangers level late in the game after Harry Maguire failed to clear a long ball, but Fernandes delivered the decisive blow moments later, slotting Lisandro Martinez’s cross past Butland to secure the win.
Rangers still have a slim chance of breaking into the top eight if they beat Union Saint-Gilloise at Ibrox next week. Meanwhile, United head to Romania to face FCSB, needing just a point to likely secure direct qualification to the last 16.
