Manchester United stun Tanner Tessmann and Lyon with late flurry to knock USMNT midfielder, French club out of Europa League

U.S. international Tanner Tessmann and Olympique Lyon suffered a heartbreaking exit from the UEFA Europa League on Thursday evening, falling 5-4 in extra time (7-6 on aggregate) to Manchester United in a wild quarterfinal second leg.

After a 2-2 draw in France left the tie level heading into Thursday’s match in Manchester, United seized early control, racing out to a 2-0 lead by halftime. Lyon responded with urgency after the break, with Tessmann and striker Alexandre Lacazette coming off the bench with 35 minutes to go - and nearly turning the tide.

Corentin Tolisso’s 71st-minute header and a 78th-minute strike from Argentina international Nicolas Tagliafico brought Lyon level, sending the match into extra time tied 4-4 on aggregate.

The French side surged ahead in the 105th minute through Rayan Cherki, with Tessmann playing the secondary pass in the buildup. Lacazette then converted a penalty to make it 4-2 in extra time, giving Lyon a seemingly commanding 6-4 aggregate lead.

But the final minutes brought utter chaos.

United pulled one back from the penalty spot, cutting the deficit to 4-3 (6-5 agg.) with six minutes remaining. Then came a dramatic collapse: England international Kobbie Mainoo leveled the match in the 120th minute, and just two minutes later, Harry Maguire thundered home a header to complete a stunning 5-4 victory (7-6 agg.).

It was a complete and utter collapse from Tessmann's Lyon, who were in the driver's seat with seven minutes left in the extra-time period.

An 89th minute second yellow card to Lyon's Tolisso - scorer of their opening goal - reduced them to 10 men, and once United gained momentum, there was nothing Lyon could do to keep up.

Tessman had a fine showing up until the late surge of goals from the home side, where the entire French side capitulated internally, with no room to point fingers at individually.

Across the final 35 minutes of regulation and the extra-time period, Tessmann completed 95 percent of his passes and managed 48 touches on the ball. He won 100 percent of three attempted tackles, and all three of attempted ground duels, as well.

Manchester pulled off the unthinkable, while Lyon crash out of the competition in circumstances nobody would have seen coming.

Lyon were last semifinalists in the Europa League in 2016-17. A win on Thursday would have seen them clinch their first berth in that stage of the competition in nearly a decade's time.

United have advanced to the semifinals of the competition, where they will now face La Liga side Athletic Club in the semifinals. Leg 1 will be on May 1, and Leg 2 on May 8.

Lyon, meanwhile, return to Ligue 1 this weekend where they will face Saint-Etienne on Sunday.