Manchester United 2-1 Rangers: Bruno Fernandes scores last-gasp winner to all but seal Europa League progress | OneFootball

Skipper has decisive late say to almost guarantee the Red Devils’ automatic qualification for the last 16

Bruno Fernandes was the last-gasp hero as Manchester United beat spirited Rangers 2-1 to all but secure automatic qualification for the Europa League last 16.

The Red Devils captain popped up with a dramatic stoppage-time volley to seal an important home win for Ruben Amorim’s side in Thursday night’s entertaining so-called ‘Battle of Britain’ clash at Old Trafford, after Rangers substitute Cyriel Dessers looked to have snatched a valuable late point to cancel out a horror own goal from Jack Butland.

Amorim - only the third United manager ever to win his first three major European matches in charge, after only Sir Matt Busby and Sir Alex Ferguson - made five changes to the side that started their latest home defeat by Brighton in the Premier League on Sunday, with FA Cup hero Altay Bayindir replacing the error-prone Andre Onana in goal.

Academy graduate Toby Collyer made his first-ever European start in midfield, with Alejandro Garnacho also drafted in despite the latest transfer links involving Chelsea. In also came Lisandro Martinez and Christian Eriksen as Harry Maguire, Noussair Mazraoui, Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte all dropped to the bench.

Rangers, meanwhile, made six changes from their Scottish Cup demolition of minnows Fraserburgh, with ex-United player Butland back in goal after missing the last six matches following an internal bleed in his leg that required hospital treatment.

United dominated possession in the opening exchanges, but gave up the two best early chances as Bayindir denied Nicolas Raskin and then parried a volley from compatriot Ridvan Yilmaz.

Garnacho was providing the hosts’ best attacking threat, trying his luck several times along with captain Fernandes before United saw a goal ruled out when Matthijs de Ligt’s front-post header from a corner did not count thanks to a light push from Leny Yoro on Robin Propper.

United were mostly in the ascendancy for the remainder of a competitive first period played out in a febrile atmosphere, Joshua Zirkzee’s strike blocked by James Tavernier before Butland made a crucial stop to deny former Rangers loanee Amad Diallo after fine link-up play with Fernandes.

At the other end, Hamza Igamane’s drive was scrambled around the post by Bayindir after taking a huge deflection off Martinez, who then tested Butland with a fierce strike that was tipped over the crossbar.

There were changes from both managers at the break, with De Ligt making way for Maguire after a setback as Rangers replaced the injured Leon Balogun and Connor Barron with Ross McCausland and 18-year-old Bailey Rice.

It was a lively start to the second half, Igamane heading an Amad corner off the line with Fernandes lurking before Rice blazed over for Rangers.

Bayindir held a tame effort from Vaclav Cerny and Fernandes had an attempt blocked after more good work from Garnacho.

A terrible blunder by Butland then broke the deadlock with 52 minutes on the clock, the former England goalkeeper not getting the proper purchase on an attempted punch from a corner as the ball instead flew backwards into his own net.

Amad tried to quickly double the lead with an acrobatic effort after being picked out by Fernandes, but the offside flag was up. There was more injury strife to come for both sides, with Yoro picking up a knock and being replaced by Tyrell Malacia for United before Rangers’ Cerny could not continue and made way for another teenager in Findlay Curtis.

Garnacho arrowed a left-footed shot against the post after Zirkzee couldn’t connect with Amad’s deflected cross from the byline, while Maguire could only head Eriksen’s free-kick delivery wide at the back post as United spurned some huge chances to likely put the game to bed.

Jefte teed up a volley for himself on the edge of the box that was held by Bayindir and Rangers boss Philippe Clement sent on Dessers, who was instantly involved in a battle with Maguire as he was denied a penalty following a physical tussle with the England defender.

Amad sliced a half-volley wide before Butland kept out substitute Ugarte’s free header and also thwarted Garnacho, after Dessers - likely in an offside position - had lifted Rice’s pass over Bayindir and against the foot of the post.

Dessers did equalise with just two minutes to go after too easily nudging Maguire away from a long ball from skipper Tavernier and taking a superb first touch and rifling low beyond the helpless Bayindir.

But Rangers were only on level terms for four minutes before Fernandes struck a dramatic winning goal in stoppage time, slipping in behind Jefte before steering a low volley from Martinez’s cross through the legs of Butland for an important three points that came after United had lost four of their last five games at Old Trafford.