A rash Scott McTominay boot gifted Kobenhavn a lifeline at Old Trafford.
The Danes had given a good account of themselves in Group A, but a close-range Harry Maguire header meant they once again risked walking away from a Champions League group stage bout with nothing to show for their efforts.
However, the sudden expectations thrust upon Kobenhavn pale in comparison to that of Tuesday’s opponents. Having lost their opening two group games for the first time ever in this competition, this was a contest Manchester United simply had to win.
McTominay’s challenge handed the visitors a spot-kick right at the last, but after Maguire had nodded the hosts in front, there was still time for one more redemption arc. Andre Onana’s start to life in Manchester has been pretty bleak, but his strong right hand denied Jordan Larsson from 12 yards to send a mourning Theatre of Dreams into a state of delirium.
It was a huge moment from the Cameroonian and it’s fair to say United supporters haven’t enjoyed many heroics from their goalkeepers in similar situations over the years.
|
Goalkeeper |
Total penalties faced |
Penalties saved |
Penalty save % |
Man Utd penalties faced |
Man Utd penalties saved |
Man Utd penalty save % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Andre Onana |
37 |
9 |
24.3 |
4 |
2 |
50 |
|
David de Gea |
74 |
14 |
18.9 |
50 |
8 |
16 |
|
Peter Schmeichel |
37 |
4 |
10.8 |
19 |
1 |
5.2 |
Stats taken from transfermarkt.com
The sample size is minute, but Onana has saved two of the four penalties he’s faced in a Man Utd shirt. Okay, well, technically he didn’t save Mauro Icardi’s spot kick on Matchday 2 of the group stage, but Transfermarkt declares errant efforts from the taker as a save in the keeper’s favour.
His stop on Tuesday night is undoubtedly the most significant of his career, with Onana saving nine of the 37 spot kicks he’s faced. His career save percentage of 24.3 tops both David de Gea and Peter Schmeichel’s records.
Having worked in a pre-VAR world, Schmeichel only faced 37 career penalties and 19 at United. Despite his reputation as arguably the best keeper of his generation, Schmeichel saved just one penalty during his apex at Old Trafford. However, his denial of Dennis Bergkamp in the 1999 FA Cup semi-final replay was one of the most significant moments in the club’s historic treble triumph.
Peter Schmeichel saves a penalty from Dennis Bergkamp with minutes to go in the FA Cup Semi Final replay in April, 1999. The rest, history #MUFC 🇾🇪 pic.twitter.com/uxeS8mUWSL
— Man Utd: ThroughTheLens (@ManUnitedLens) October 11, 2020
De Gea, meanwhile, was chastised for his penalty-saving ability, especially in shootouts. The Spaniard memorably didn’t get near any of Villarreal’s 11 penalties during the 2021 Europa League final before missing from 12 yards himself. However, De Gea’s record isn’t woeful. His career save percentage is 18.9, while his Premier League save percentage of 14 is comparable with the likes of Hugo Lloris (13%), Ederson (14%), and Alisson (14%).
The supreme shot-stopper saved eight of the 50 penalties he faced in a United shirt, and four of these proved to be decisive as his side went on to win by a one-goal margin. De Gea saved from the likes of Robin van Persie, Steven Gerrard and Romelu Lukaku during his United career. Schmeichel, meanwhile, denied both Bergkamp and Deco. Onana’s resume is yet to include such stellar names.
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