By Darwin Largo
Manchester United needed to get a win against Copenhagen at Old Trafford to keep their chances of qualifying to the Champions League round of 16. In their first two matches they had lost (4-3 vs Bayern Munich and 3-2 against Galatasaray), so they were last in the Group A standings.
But it was not an easy mission. Erik Ten Hag's team had trouble breaking through the defensive barriers of the Danes, who proved to be a difficult and orderly team. In fact, during the first half the visitors came closest to scoring the opener: Diogo Goncalves had a very dangerous opportunity, with a right-footed shot that hit the post.
After the break, however, things changed. Copenhagen no longer had the same energy and started to defend closer and closer to their own box. The Red Devils controlled the ball and the field, making merits to get the victory. But the minutes passed and the goals did not come. Until the 27th minute when they netted the opener: after a corner kick, Bruno Fernandes sent a floated cross that found Harry Maguire inside the box. The English defender rose in the air and with a powerful header beat the resistance of goalkeeper Kamil Grabara.
Everything seemed to indicate that they were going to get an easy victory. But nothing of the sort happened. In the last minute of stoppage time, Scott McTominay committed a foul inside the box and the referee gave a penalty. Jordan Larson took the kick, but André Onana covered the ball with a great reaction and saved his team. The goalkeeper had been heavily criticized for some mistakes in previous matches, but this time he was the hero at Old Trafford.
Manchester United are gradually raising their level. In the Champions League they are now only one point behind Galatasaray, who are in the qualification zone for the round of 16. And in the Premier League they have won 3 of their last 4 matches. But on Sunday they will have an important challenge: they will face Manchester City at Old Trafford.
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