ANDRE Onana was the hero for Manchester United tonight, saving a penalty in stoppage time as they defeated FC Copenhagen 1-0 in their UEFA Champions League group stage clash at Old Trafford.
In other fixtures in the competition tonight there were victories on the road for Real Madrid, Arsenal and Napoli. Bayern Munich also secured an away win at Galatasaray in the early kick-off.
Cameroon goalkeeper Onana has had a torrid start to his Manchester United career since he joined them from Inter Milan in the summer but it was some sort of redemption for him tonight.
With United playing poorly but leading 1-0 through Harry Maguire’s 72nd minute header and on course for their first Champions League victory this season, they gave away a penalty deep into stoppage time following Scott McTominay’s foul.
Jordan Larsson, the son of former Manchester United striker Henrik Larsson who had been substituted on just five minutes to full-time, stepped up to take the penalty.
If Larsson had scored, United would have been left with just one point from their first three games and they would have remained bottom of the group, but Onana produced a magnificent save to preserve all three points and take Erik ten Hag’s side to third spot.
In Group A’s other fixture, Bayern Munich defeated Galatasaray 3-1 in Turkey to keep their 100 percent record.
Real Madrid also maintained their perfect start in Group C with a 2-1 victory over Sporting Braga in Portugal.
Rodrygo and the prolific Jude Bellingham struck for the 14-time champions before Alvaro Djalo reduced the deficit for the home side.
Napoli, with their Nigerian striker and top scorer Victor Osimhen unavailable through injury, squeezed past Union Berlin 1-0 in Germany.
Giancomo Raspadori netted in the 65th minute off the resurgent Kvicha Kvaratskhelia’s assist to keep the Serie A champions in second spot in the group.
Europa League holders Sevilla appear destined to return to the competition they have dominated in recent years after falling 2-1 at home to Arsenal in Group B.
Brazil forwards Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus scored the goals for Arsenal in Spain, with Nemanja Gudelj pulling one back for Sevilla.
Arsenal are on top of the group with six points, while Sevilla are third four points adrift and will be demoted to the Europa League if they finish in that position.
Lens drew 1-1 at home with Dutch side PSV but the French club are sitting comfortably in second spot with five points, three more than their opponents who are bottom.
In other Champions League clashes tonight, last season’s runners-up Inter Milan defeated FC Salzburg 2-1 in Italy in the early kick-off in Group D while Real Sociedad won 1-0 at Benfica.
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE RESULTS
Galatasaray 1-3 Bayern Munich
Inter Milan 2-1 FC Salzburg
Manchester United 1-0 FC Copenhagen
RC Lens 1-1 PSV Eindhoven
Sevilla 1-2 Arsenal
Sporting Braga 1-2 Real Madrid
Union Berlin 0-1 Napoli
Benfica 0-1 Real Sociedad
