EUROPA League
Francis Uzoho: Omonia Nicosia keeper and boyhood Man Utd fan stars at Old Trafford
For any boyhood Manchester United fan, playing at Old Trafford is a dream come true. Then, to produce the performance of your life, takes things to a whole new level.
That is exactly what happened to Omonia Nicosia goalkeeper Francis Uzoho on Thursday and even Scott McTominay’s stoppage-time winner for Manchester United would not spoil his moment.
Uzoho, 23, had only played 134 minutes so far this season, but produced a string of stunning saves as the Cypriots threatened a big Europa League upset.
McTominay finally broke his resistance as the hosts boosted their hopes of qualifying as group winners – but a beaming Uzoho refused to let that ruin his night.
“I am not disappointed,” Uzoho told BT Sport. “We had a good game, I am happy, it is not an easy stadium to play at.
“It is a dream come true. I have dreamed to play here for a long, long time.
“When I saw the draw, I wanted to play and I got the opportunity.
“Arguably it is the best I have played. I am proud of my team-mates though, because it is not a one-man job.”
It was a game that the hosts dominated, having 34 shots compared to three and 51 touches in the Omonia box, compared to six by the visitors at the other end.
However, it looked like Uzoho was on track for a clean sheet, saving the first 12 shots on target he faced, before McTominay’s 93rd-minute winner.
When the draw was made in August, Uzoho, who has played 25 times for Nigeria, replied to United’s tweet, saying “finally Theatre of Dreams here I come”.
He has now played there and produced a performance that will “change his career”, according to BT Sport pundit Owen Hargreaves.
“He had the game of his life, he was amazing,” added the former United and England midfielder.
“He will nick a move off that. To think he was their back-up goalkeeper.
“He was a wall. His agent will be on the phone and he will be having a Jerry Maguire phone call.
“We all have moments, games that change your career – everyone will know his name.
“This game will change his career, arguably change his life. It is spectacular, that is what sport is all about. He sums it up there with that beaming smile in the interview.”
Former Celtic boss Neil Lennon, now managing Omonia, said Uzoho “hasn’t shut up all week” about playing at Old Trafford.
“He was inspiring. I’m very proud of him,” said Lennon.
“When you play a team of this calibre you need your goalkeeper to play well and he was world class. I was so happy for him.
“He has had to be patient. The opportunity came along and I had a chat with him about what I wanted.
“I thought he was magnificent. He excelled under the spotlight. I’m so happy for him because all of his hard work has come to fruition.”
On Thursday morning not many people would have heard of Francis Uzoho. After Thursday evening, a lot more will know his name.
-BBC
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag called on his players to use the frustration from their humbling defeat by Tottenham Hotspur as motivation to beat Porto in the Europa League on Thursday.
Following the 3-0 home loss to Spurs on Sunday, Ten Hag admitted his team’s mood could have been more positive.
“We are mad, mad with ourselves, especially when you lose a game like Sunday… but you have to deal with it. We are mad, and from the madness we have to get motivation,” Ten Hag told reporters on Wednesday.
“Always, when we are not winning we are disappointed and we are also mad with ourselves.”
United are 13th in the Premier League table and following a 1-1 draw with Dutch side Twente Enschede in the first Europa League match, Ten Hag said speculation about his job was inevitable.
“This club wants to be back on top and it’s a long-term target. We talk every day. Every day we evaluate and review the process and where necessary we make our decisions,” he said
“Everyone has to take responsibility and that starts with me as the manager. But on the pitch we have leadership skills and they have to stand up.
“Every game for us is important and every opponent is 100% motivated. We have to be ready to compete and fight with them.”
The Dutchman said midfielder Mason Mount, who was not part of the squad that travelled to Porto, was dealing with two injury issues and that defender Luke Shaw should return to action following the October international break.
-Reuters
Manchester United began their Europa League campaign with a 1-1 draw after they were held by FC Twente at a rainy Old Trafford on Wednesday, with a goal from Christian Eriksen being cancelled out by Dutch striker Sam Lammers.
The first half was a lively affair, with Twente’s Lammers making an early attempt that trickled past the post.
Eriksen put United ahead 10 minutes before the break, delivering a powerful curling shot into the top corner from inside the box.
Twente equalised in the 68th minute when Lammers produced a powerful finish past United keeper Andre Onana at the near post.
Joshua Zirkzee tried to get United in front again minutes later with a shot from an acute angle but were denied by a save from Twente keeper Lars Unnerstall.
Bruno Fernandes came close to scoring for United in the final minutes with a curling shot toward the top corner, but the hosts struggled to break through Twente’s deep-lying defence, which seemed content to secure the away draw.
DIA DOUBLE FOR LAZIO
Boulaye Dia scored a double and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru added another in the first half to hand Lazio a comprehensive 3-0 win against Dynamo Kyiv in Hamburg.
Nice and Real Sociedad played out a 1-1 draw. Ander Barrenetxea put the Basque side ahead before Pablo Rosario scored the equaliser for Nice.
Elsewhere, Turkish champions Galatasaray claimed a 3-1 home win over Greece’s PAOK thanks to Abdul Rahman Baba’s own goal and strikes from Yunus Akgun and Mauro Icardi. Giannis Konstantelias scored for the visitors.
In an early match, Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt secured a 3-2 home victory against FC Porto thanks to a brace from Jens Petter Hauge, despite going down to 10 men in the 51st minute.
-Reuters
It took Ajax 34 penalties to beat Panathinaikos 13-12 in a marathon shootout on Thursday, setting a UEFA competition record after their Europa League third qualifying round tie ended 1-1 over two legs and extra time.
Ajax, who won 1-0 at Panathinaikos last week, conceded in the 89th minute in Amsterdam, leading to the shootout that broke the previous record of 32 attempts at the European U-21 Championship semi-final in 2007 where Netherlands beat England 13-12.
The world record for the longest shootout was set in May when Israeli third-tier clubs SC Dimona and Shimshon Tel Aviv took 56 penalties to resolve their semi-final promotion playoff tie.
Ajax keeper Remko Pasveer made five saves and scored on his own attempt to help the hosts win the shootout as Dutch international Brian Brobbey missed two penalties.
“Five is quite a lot, yes. I save a penalty every now and then, but I don’t think you often experience something as crazy as this,” Pasveer said.
“Every time I thought we would do it. Brobbey behind the ball, we will do it. But he missed, while he always scores during training.”
Defender Anton Gaaei ultimately delivered the winning penalty for Ajax. The Eredivisie club will now face Polish side Jagiellonia Bialystok in the playoff round later this month.
-Reuters
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