The Reds appeared to be holding until Scott McTominay tucked away a low shot with two minutes remaining to break the stalemate. United controlled possession and opportunities in a highly one-sided match, but a gallant performance from the Cypriot side’s keeper Francis Uzoho held them equal until the end.
Erik ten Hag’s club is second in the group with two games remaining after Real Sociedad triumphed 3-0 over Sheriff Tiraspol to maintain a three-point lead. Within two minutes of United’s kickoff, Omonia goalie Uzoho was forced into action, tipping over a curing attempt produced by Marcus Rashford after an early corner. That was the first of four outstanding stops by Uzoho in the first half hour, as the Reds dominated the play. The second of Rashford’s chances came after Cristiano Ronaldo snatched the ball high up the field, allowing Bruno Fernandes to set up Rashford, who was stopped by the onrushing Uzoho.
Rashford darted inside and swung a powerful strike goal-bound, which was deflected aside for the second time. Casimero then had a chance to open his United account from close range, but the ball struck the bar due to a minor touch by the keeper. At the end of a powerful but frustrating first half, the Brazilian also had a header fly just wide.
After the break, the Reds piled on the pressure, but just as the opportunities kept coming, so did the saves from the in-form Uzoho. First, a double save to deny Antony and then Rashford on the rebound, before foiling a Fred attempt and diving at Ronaldo’s feet to prevent the loose ball from being turned in.
United had a penalty call at the midway point of the half when a corner was delivered in and struck a defender in the arm, but a VAR check upheld the referee’s decision of no spot-kick. VAR also looked at Moreto Cassama’s hard challenge on Casemiro a few seconds later but did not interfere. Cassama was given a yellow card for high kicking the Brazilian in the shin.
Ten Hag’s squad proceeded to beat on the door, but were met with stiff resistance. Substitute McTominay blasted through the crowd in the closing 10 minutes, but his attempt was palmed away. McTominay scored the game-winning goal in the third of five additional minutes, with the clock winding down and 10 Omonia players defending in the box.To the pleasure of the home fans, his strike from the centre of the box, following Jadon Sancho’s approach play, went between the legs of a defender and into the back of the net.
MATCH DETAILS
United: De Gea; Dalot, Lindelof, Martinez, Malacia (Shaw 60); Casemiro (McTominay 81), Fred (Eriksen 70); Antony (Sancho 60), Fernandes, Rashford; Ronaldo.
Subs not used: Dubravka, Heaton, Varane, Iqbal; Elanga, Garnacho, Pellistri.
Goal: McTominay 90+3.
Omonia Nicosia: Uzoho; Matthews (Psaltis 65), Lang, Miletic, Yuste, Kitsos; Panagiotou, Cassama (Diskerud 85), Charalampous (Papoulis 74); Kakoullis (Ansarifard 64), Bruno (Loizou 74).
Subs not used: Panagi, Barker, Lecjaks, Zachariou, Venizelos, Savva, Bezus.
Booked: Kakoullis, Cassama, Panagiotou.
