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Maguire, Onana unlikely heroes in crucial win 'dedicated to Sir Bobby'

Andre Onana and Harry Maguire were the unlikely heroes as Manchester United kickstarted their Champions League campaign by beating FC Copenhagen 1-0 on the night Bobby Charlton was remembered at Old Trafford.

Much-maligned centre-back Maguire headed in the only goal 18 minutes from time before Onana saved Jordan Larsson’s penalty with the last kick of the game.

The English giants had lost their opening two Champions League group games for the first time in the club’s history, but are back in contention for the last 16 thanks to a much-needed win.

One of United’s greatest ever players, Charlton died on Saturday at the age of 86.

A moving tribute was paid to the 1966 World Cup winner before kick-off as United boss Erik ten Hag laid a wreath in the centre-circle before a minute’s silence was observed.

“It was meant to be,” Maguire told TNT Sports. “We were meant to win the game. A magnificent save and a win dedicated to Sir Bobby and his family.”

Ten Hag urged his players to be inspired by Charlton’s legacy after a difficult start to the season.

But the Dutchman was disheartened by another insipid first-half performance.

The Danish champions were inches away from going in front after just five minutes when Diogo Goncalves hit the post.

The emotional atmosphere around Old Trafford prior to kick-off quickly turned to groans of frustration as the home side laboured to create anything of note before the break.

Onana proves his worth

Onana was also required to prove his worth early in the second-half before United awoke from their slumber.

The Cameroonian made high-profile errors in both United’s Champions League defeats to Bayern Munich and Galatasaray.

But the man who helped Inter Milan reach the final of last season’s competition showed why United splashed out £47 million ($57 million) on him in July.

Onana’a first crucial save of the game prevented Lukas Lerager’s shot finding the top corner.

Rasmus Hojlund failed to shine against his former club, but did tee up Christian Eriksen for a powerful low drive that former Liverpool goalkeeper Kamil Grabara did brilliantly to turn behind.

Marcus Rashford’s lack of confidence in front of goal was also on show as a heavy touch when clean through wasted a huge chance before substitute Alejandro Garnacho did exactly the same with just Grabara to beat.

Instead Maguire bailed out his forwards to at least ensure Charlton’s farewell was marked with a victory.

The England international had fallen way down the pecking order during Ten Hag’s first season in charge, but is making the most of a series of defensive injuries that have brought him back into the fold.

Maguire just stayed onside to meet Eriksen’s cross with a bullet header 18 minutes from time.

“When you are not on your game it gets picked up, but I am really proud and pleased how I have acted over this six to 12 months,” added Maguire.

“I have been given an opportunity and I want to help the team and get the club back to where it should be.”

United should have added a second as Garnacho and Scott McTominay passed up big chances to double the lead.

And they were nearly made to pay when McTominay was penalised for a high foot on Mohamed Elyounoussi deep into stoppage time.

Larsson, son of former United striker Henrik Larsson, stepped forward but his powerful effort was turned behind by Onana to spark wild scenes of celebration.

“I’m just doing my job,” said Onana.

“We are Manchester United. We are a big club, big players … now we have to continue like this. I have no doubt we will make it (through).”

Victory takes United above Copenhagen into third in Group A and within one point of Galatasaray.

Bayern are already closing in on qualification after a 3-1 win over Galatasaray made it three wins from three games for the German giants.

NFL

Source: Rams' Stafford unlikely to play vs. Pack

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is unlikely to play Sunday against the Green Bay Packers as he deals with a thumb injury, but the team is giving him all the time it can before it has to make any final decisions about his availability, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Stafford suffered a ulnar collateral ligament sprain in his right thumb in last week’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys. He’s officially listed as questionable.

Rams star rookie wide receiver Puka Nacua, who is also listed as questionable against the Packers, is expected to play, a source said.

In the middle of this past week, one source said it “would have been unthinkable” for Stafford to play Sunday, but the veteran quarterback has made progress. Stafford wants to play, but the team recognizes it’s going to be highly challenging, a source said.

The Rams head into their bye week after Sunday’s game, meaning Stafford could have two weeks to recover if he doesn’t play. Los Angeles would next play on Nov. 19 at Seattle.

If Stafford is ruled out, Brett Rypien would replace him as the starter with Dresser Winn as the backup.

Soccer

Report: FA investigating whether Tonali broke betting rules after joining Newcastle

Sandro Tonali is the target of another gambling investigation.

The 23-year-old faces the possibility of further sanctions after the Football Association in England opened a fresh investigation into whether he bet on football in the months after his £55-million transfer from Milan to Newcastle, according to Jacob Whitehead of The Athletic.

Tonali is already serving a 10-month ban for betting on games involving his former teams, Brescia and AC Milan. He confessed to gambling on illegal platforms to Italian prosecutors in October and was banned from all football activity until next year.

Suspicions over further breaches arose after his agent revealed that Tonali has a gambling addiction.

Tonali is currently only allowed to train with his Newcastle teammates until the suspension ends.

Newcastle sporting director Dan Ashworth refused to rule out the possibility of initiating legal action against Milan. However, he wouldn’t speculate about whether the Italian side knew about Tonali’s problems before selling him in July.

He added that the club wouldn’t have pursued Tonali had it been aware of the Italian football federation’s investigation.

“It’s really difficult for me to get into what other clubs do or don’t know,” he said, according to The Guardian’s Louise Taylor. “All we can do is look at our own internal investigation and internal process. It’s a really difficult question for me to answer – I just don’t know.”

There have been “no conversations” between the two clubs since they met in the Champions League in September after Tonali’s betting breaches were made public, Ashworth says.

Tonali played 12 times for Newcastle before the suspension came into effect on Oct. 27.

Soccer

Report: Ten Hag 'on thin ice' at Man Utd; Zidane among potential replacements

Manchester United’s faith in Erik ten Hag is waning in the wake of a pair of defeats that have put the club in a perilous position.

The Dutch head coach is “on thin ice” after back-to-back 3-0 losses at home against Manchester City in the Premier League and Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup, according to Charlotte Duncker and Matt Lawton of The Times.

With the team enduring its worst start in 61 years, Manchester United officials are now considering possible replacements in the event Ten Hag gets sacked. Former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane and Sporting CP manager Ruben Amorim have been identified as possible candidates to succeed the 53-year-old.

Zidane has been out of work since leaving Real Madrid in 2021, three years after winning his third Champions League title at the club. Meanwhile, Amorim, 38, is regarded as one of the top young coaches after leading Sporting to their first league triumph in Portugal in 19 years. Amorim was also linked with Chelsea before the Blues appointed Mauricio Pochettino.

But a decision over Ten Hag’s future could be delayed due to the uncertainty around Manchester United’s ownership, Duncker and Lawton add.

British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe is reportedly set to purchase an initial 25% stake in Manchester United for £1.3 billion and is keen to take up the responsibility of having a say in football decisions. But while an agreement between United and the founder of chemicals giant INEOS could be announced next week, it could take until the new year before Ratcliffe’s affiliation is finalized.

Along with the front office reportedly starting to lose confidence, some Manchester United players have questioned whether Ten Hag is suited for the job of getting Manchester United back on track. There have also been concerns about the intensity of Ten Hag’s training sessions, which have been blamed for some injuries this season, Duncker and Lawton report.

Wednesday’s Carabao Cup exit compounded issues facing a Manchester United squad that’s lost eight of its opening 15 fixtures in all competitions this term, which equals the club’s worst start since the 1962-63 season.

Ten Hag, who vowed that he was a “fighter” after losing to Newcastle, is expected to be on the touchline for United’s clash against Fulham on Saturday. But anything other than a victory could possibly expedite Manchester United’s decision, considering that the club’s hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League already look bleak.

Manchester United sit eighth in the Premier League, eight points back of the top four, and face the risk of being eliminated in the Champions League group stage after losing two of their first three games.

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Soccer