- Bruno Fernandes has received a second red card in as many games for Man United
- Until Sunday he had never been sent off with the Red Devils in 240 appearances
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Bruno Fernandes was sent off for the second game in a row on Thursday night against Porto in the Europa League in Man United’s dramatic 3-3 draw.
Manchester United’s season went from bad to worse as they first blew a two-goal lead and then lost their captain with less than 10 minutes left as they chased the game.
While his sending off against Tottenham on Sunday was later overturned, the United captain has been given his marching orders twice in five days.
Marcus Rashford scored a stunning solo goal in the first half and Rasmus Hojlund made it 2-0 in the 20th minute, but a quick brace from Pepe Aquino and Samu Omorodion put things right again.
Omorodion then scored again and, as United chased the game, Bruno was red carded for a second yellow card after a high foot while trying to control a ball inside the area.
Bruno Fernandes saw his second red card in as many games on Thursday night in Porto
The Man United captain received a second warning after a great challenge on Porto’s Nehuen Pérez.
With United and Erik ten Hag facing a huge week, with the pressure increasing on the Dutchman’s shoulders with each passing day, it is another blow for the Red Devils.
It looked like it was going to be a double blow of defeat and dismissal for their talismanic attacking midfielder, but Harry Maguire came to his team’s rescue late in the game.
The England centre-back, who only came off the bench in the second half, jumped highest to finish off a cross in the 91st minute and, crucially, added another point for the visitors.
However, it will surely be a blow for Fernandes to have received another red card, having never received a single sending off in his entire United career before Sunday.
However, it seemed like a reckless challenge, the Portuguese star jumping with his studs in the air to try and reach the ball before Perez, whose head lowered to clear the ball.
“Bruno Fernandes is not happy,” former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson said on BBC Radio 5 Live. ‘He came in high with his foot and it’s dangerous.
“In Fernandes’ defense he looks at the ball, but when you do it you don’t give the referee a choice.”
Fernandes will now miss United’s trip to Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce at the end of October.
Following Sunday’s defeat to Tottenham, his dismissal was overturned, with a panel also concluding that VAR should have intervened in the decision, so it is a silver lining that he is now in contention for the weekend trip to Aston Villa.
However, there is likely to be no such luck in the clash against Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce at the end of October, when his side will be desperate for their first win of the Europa League campaign.
