BACK FROM HELL: Harry Maguire become ‘UNSUNG HERO’ as rescues Erik ten Hag with vital injury-time equaliser after Bruno Fernandes red card in Man Utd’s draw over Porto

ON A night when Erik Ten Hag desperately needed something to change, his team proved that they seem to be getting worse.

It tells you everything you need to know about the state of Manchester United that it is no longer a surprise when they concede three goals.

Erik ten Hag was rescued by Harry Maguire as Manchester United drew 3-3 with Porto

Erik ten Hag was rescued by Harry Maguire as Manchester United drew 3-3 with Porto

Maguire equalised in the 91st minute after United had let a two-goal lead slip

Porto 3-3 Man Utd: Player ratings as late Maguire equaliser spares more blushes

Maguire equalised in the 91st minute after United had let a two-goal lead slip

Samu Omorodion had scored twice to complete a dramatic turnaround for Porto

Samu Omorodion had scored twice to complete a dramatic turnaround for Porto

And it is the very reason why, surely, we are coming to the end of the Ten Hag era, despite the injury time leveller from sub Harry Maguire.

Here was another 90 minutes of chaos and embarrassment.

Leading 2-0 with goals from Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund, United conceded three times for the 24th time under Ten Hag.

Striker Pepe headed Porto’s first and then 20-year-old Spanish striker Samu Omorodion equalised before the break and then scored the third before Maguire came to the rescue.

Porto v Manchester United LIVE: Result and final score as Harry Maguire saves Red Devils in Europa League | The Independent

Ten Hag needed a captain’s performance from Bruno Fernandes but instead, he got sent off for the second game in a row.

Man United captain Bruno Fernandes sent off for the second time as many games | AP News

And unbelievably, it also means that under Ten Hag, United have managed just one win in 10 in Europe.

Surely, this cannot go on much longer. Here is a team with little organisation, no characters, no leaders or backbone.

If United play like this at Villa Park, they will be lucky to get away with conceding three goals.

United could not have wished for a better start when Rashford gave them a seventh minute lead.

Picking up the ball from Eriksen 40 yards from goal, Rashford cut inside from the left, carried the ball in the area and displayed some nifty footwork to dance through Joao Mario and Stephen Eustaquio.

While his near-post shot was hardly thunderous, it was enough to catch out keeper Diogo Costa who should have done much better.

Marcus Rashford opened the scoring for United after just 10 minutes

Marcus Rashford opened the scoring for United after just 10 minutes

It was from a Rashford cross which saw Porto defender Ze Pedro come close to scoring a spectacular own goal but a wild swing of his right boot saw the ball flash across the face of the goal.

On that occasion, Rashford was attempting to pick out Hojlund but the pair delivered the second goal soon after and United looked unstoppable.

Rashford slipped the ball to Hojlund and with a first-time shot, the normally reliable keeper Costa was once again beaten at his near post.

Rasmus Hojlund doubled the lead before their first half collapse

Rasmus Hojlund doubled the lead before their first half collapse

It was a first goal of the season for Hojlund in only his fourth appearance.

He immediately sprinted over to the bench to celebrate with with physio David Binningsley, who helped him recover from the hamstring which saw him miss the start of the season,

Yet the least surprising turn of events was United capitulating.

Pepe's goal kickstarted Porto's dramatic comeback at the Estadio do Dragao

Pepe’s goal kickstarted Porto’s dramatic comeback at the Estadio do Dragao

Omorodion completed the turnaround with his second goal and his side's third

Omorodion completed the turnaround with his second goal and his side’s third

While Onana delivered a flying save to prevent Noussair Mazraoui from scoring a headed own goal, the ball dropped in the path of Pepe who nodded the ball into the net.

He would also have been grateful that Linsandro Martinez had switched off completely and reacted far too late.

United’s defending was just as bad for the equaliser seven minutes later and on this occasion, it was all down to De Ligt.

Firstly, he delivered a hopeless clearance and 10 seconds later, he was easily beaten by Omorodion who got his head to Joao Mario’s cross.

De Ligt doesn’t seem to be that skilled in the air, and Maguire would have easily won the challenge with that kind of cross.

Alejandro Garnacho was substituted by Ten Hag for Rashford at halftime.

And even if it was obvious that they weren’t listening, he would have advised his group to remain collected and not make any foolish decisions.

Being put onside by Noussair Mazraoui, Pepe easily outran the lethargic Martinez, and Omorodion met the cross with a powerful finish.

Although once more, De Ligt should have done much better

Onana stopped a total humiliation by making good saves to deny Omorodion and Fabio Veira.

Fernandes then received a second yellow for sticking out a boot on Nehuen Perez. There was little contact but it was still an idiotic challenge.

Bruno Fernandes was sent off during the final 10 minutes as United's night went from bad to worse

Bruno Fernandes was sent off during the final 10 minutes as United’s night went from bad to worse

Hated in these parts as an ex-Sporting Lisbon player, the home fans loved the sight of trooping off.

Maguire got his head to Eriksen’s injury-time corner but Ten Hag’s exit still seems inevitable. He seems incapable of turning this mess around.

Maguire came off the bench to salvage a draw with his late header

Maguire came off the bench to salvage a draw with his late header

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