McTominay spares Red Devils' blushes with late winner in Europa League
Having fallen behind in the reverse fixture, Erik ten Hag named a strong starting side as he looked to avoid a repeat of the nerves of last week’s meeting.
United were straight onto the attack, forcing stand-in goalkeeper Francis Uzoho (23) into a spectacular early save to deny Marcus Rashford (24).
The Red Devils continued to press for an opener and Uzoho was on hand to smother Rashford again after the Omonia surrendered the ball in the final third.
The Nigerian shot-stopper remained busy and denied Rashford for a third time, getting fingertips to an effort that was destined for the bottom corner.
The visitors were under relentless pressure and Uzoho was the only man preventing United taking the lead. His best save of the half came to deny Casemiro (30) a first goal for the club, tipping his long-range effort onto the bar.
Fred and Casemiro both missed headers before the break, but United were very nearly caught cold by Neil Lennon’s men on the counter. Bruno broke away down the left and had a golden opportunity to square to Andronikos Kakoullis for a tap-in, but he opted to shoot instead, blazing high and wide of David De Gea’s goal, enraging his manager in the process.
The hosts rattled in 15 shots in the first half, more than any other side in this season’s UEL within 45 minutes, but ultimately had nothing to show for their efforts and needed to sharpen up their attack.
Within 25 seconds of the restart, United spurned further chances to break the deadlock. Uzoho denied Antony, before brilliantly scrambling across his goal to deny Rashford on the rebound.
United continue to waste chance after chance, with Rashford played in on goal only to fire wide. Moments later, Fernandes missed at the near post from Jadon Sancho’s pull-back, with Ronaldo hitting the side-netting shortly afterwards.
Late substitute Scott McTominay was denied by Uzoho shortly after coming on, but he would be the man to finally break the most stubborn of rearguards.
Sancho’s deflected cross dropped to the Scotsman, who drove his effort low and hard, proving too powerful for the heroic Uzoho.
A crucial late goal kept United’s hopes of automatic qualification to the last 16 alive, but Omonia enhanced their reputation with an incredible display of defending.
