Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at how the players performed during Manchester United’s 3-3 draw with Porto in the Europa League.
Manchester United scored a 91st-minute leveller through Harry Maguire, as the Red Devils drew 3-3 with Porto in a spectacular Europa League contest on Thursday night.
Goals from Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund saw Man United lead 2-0 inside the first 20 minutes, but a header from Pepe and a brace from Samu Omorodion allowed Porto to turn the game around.
Bruno Fernandes was then sent off for the Red Devils in the 81st minute, but the 20-time English champions managed to earn a point courtesy of a header from Maguire in the final exchanges.
Here, Sports Mole takes a close look at how each player performed in the European fixture, with the result potentially saving Erik ten Hag‘s job at Old Trafford.
Porto player ratings vs. Man United: Costa finds it tough but Omorodion shows his class
© Imago
GOALKEEPER
Diogo Costa– 4/10
Costa is a brilliant goalkeeper, but he had a very poor evening in Portugal; he should have kept out Man United’s opening two goals of the night and looked shaky whenever the ball was inside the box.
DEFENCE
Joao Mario – 6/10
Produced an excellent cross for Omorodion to level the scores late in the first period, but the right-back did find it very difficult against Rashford in the opening half of the contest.
Jose Pedro – 5/10
Found it very tough when Man United were driving at him in numbers; it was not a night for the defenders on either side, and Pedro will certainly have better games than this.
Nehuen Perez – 6/10
Arguably the pick of the Porto defenders, but he was another who struggled in the opening 20 minutes, before settling as the match progressed, which was the case with a number of the home side’s players.
Francisco Moura – 6/10
Finished the match and can be pleased with his performance on the night, as Amad Diallo found it difficult down the right, but Antony did have a positive impact when he entered the field.
MIDFIELD
Nico Gonzalez – 7/10
A number of his teammates tired in the second period, but Gonzalez always wanted the ball and was prepared to drive his team forward. He was the pick of the Porto midfielders on the night.
Stephen Eustaquio – 6/10
Was overwhelmed in the opening 20 minutes, which was the case with a number of the Porto players, but he was able to have more of an influence as the match developed.
Alan Varela – 6/10
There was not an awful lot of passing through the Porto midfield, with the home side’s biggest threat coming from crosses, and Varela was not able to showcase his quality in the European affair.
ATTACK
Pepe – 8/10
Pepe had a brilliant night in Porto, scoring his side’s first before setting up Omorodion to make it 3-2 early in the second period, but the forward was replaced just past the hour as he started to tire.
Samu Omorodion – 9/10
Caused Man United all sorts of problems with a dominant centre-forward performance. Scored a brilliant header in the first period before thumping home a second after the break. Man-of-the-match Omorodion was brilliant in Porto.
Galeno – 7/10
Was the quietest member of the front three, but that is not a huge criticism considering the quality of the other two. Proved to be threat in possession of the ball, but he was not too involved in the second period.
SUBSTITUTES
Martim Fernandes – 5/10
Was the first player off the Porto bench just past the hour, but he did not see too much of the ball.
Marko Grujic – 5/10
Was introduced to strengthen the midfield and also provide more height at set pieces, but Man United ended up scoring a late leveller from a corner, which will be frustrating for the hosts.
Fabio Vieira – 6/10
On-loan Arsenal midfielder showed some nice touches, but he entered the field during a period when Porto were being forced deeper and deeper into their own half in a bid to protect their lead.
Deniz Gul – 5/10
Hardly touched the ball in the latter stages as Porto dropped back.
Danny Namaso – N/A
Only given the final exchanges after Man United scored.
Man United player ratings vs. Porto: Onana impresses but Fernandes is poor again
© Imago
GOALKEEPER
Andre Onana – 7/10
Could not do anything with the three Porto goals, and he made some excellent saves throughout the contest, with the Cameroonian one of few Man United players who can be content with their performance.
DEFENCE
Noussair Mazraoui – 5/10
Has had a solid start to his Man United career, but this was a difficult night for the summer arrival, as he was caught out on a number of occasions throughout the match and struggled to offer a threat going forward.
Matthijs de Ligt – 4/10
Found Omorodion too difficult to handle for long stages of the contest, and he was replaced in the 78th minute, with the 20-time English champions then going on to score late on through Maguire.
Lisandro Martinez – 4/10
Has had a tough start to the season, with the Argentine not looking the same player after his injury problems. Struggled both on and off the ball during a difficult night in the European contest.
Diogo Dalot – 5/10
Dalot is simply a right-back playing as a left-back; he continued to come into midfield – a clear instruction from head coach Ten Hag – but it left so much space down the left.
MIDFIELD
Bruno Fernandes – 4/10
Has had a terrible start to the season, and that continued on Thursday night. Was sent off for a second successive match in the 81st minute for a high boot, which earned him a second yellow card, although the contact was minimal.
Casemiro – 5/10
Far from Man United’s worst player, but the Red Devils again struggled in a central area, and the Brazilian looks like a player who is entering the latter stages of his career at this level.
Christian Eriksen – 6/10
Was excellent in the early stages when Man United had so much joy, but like a number of his teammates, the Denmark international struggled when Porto started to up the tempo.
ATTACK
Amad Diallo – 5/10
Has been given plenty of chances to make his mark this season, but this was another difficult match for the Ivorian, and it was not a surprise when he was replaced in the second half.
Rasmus Hojlund – 7/10
Got his name on the scoresheet in the first period, but Hojlund faded as the match developed, which was not a surprise considering that he has been out of action for a long period.
Marcus Rashford – 8/10
Was excellent in the opening half of action, making the breakthrough before setting up Hojlund to make it 2-0, but the England international was surprisingly replaced at the half-time interval.
SUBSTITUTES
Alejandro Garnacho – 7/10
Garnacho took over from Rashford on the left, and he was a threat to Porto, with the Argentina international causing problems with his pace and direct running.
Joshua Zirkzee – 6/10
Still only has the one goal for the club, which came against Fulham, but he did have a positive influence late on, with Man United deservedly levelling due to their pressure.
Antony – 6/10
There is no getting away from the fact that Antony has struggled at Man United, but the Brazilian was a threat down the right, and he can be content with his performance.
Harry Maguire – 7/10
Proved to be the hero for Man United in the latter stages with a towering header, and he will now hope to be in the starting side against Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.
Jonny Evans – 6/10
Entered alongside Maguire in the final stages, and he was a steady influence at the back.
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