March 6, 2019 will go down in Champions League history for Manchester United and PSG, but for vastly different reasons. Manchester United entered Paris for the second leg of the Round of 16 facing a 2-0 deficit and 14-1 longshot odds of advancing. No team had ever overcome a two-goal loss at home in the opening leg in 34 previous instances, but that was about to change. Give credit to the public bettors out there who kept the belief, whether it was blind loyalty or smart wagering. More than 50% of bets were on Manchester United to win the second leg (ranging from +410 to +600), and things couldn’t have started off any better. A costly early mistake by PSG in the second minute was buried by Romelu Lukaku to put United ahead, 1-0. However, just 10 minutes later, PSG responded with a goal through Juan Bernat to tie it 1-1, giving the hosts a two-goal cushion on aggregate, 3-1. Now Manchester United were looking unlikely to make the comeback. But in the 30th minute, a seemingly innocent shot from Marcus Rashford skipped off the turf and was fumbled by legendary keeper Gigi Buffon. Lukaku once again pounced on the chance and finished to put Manchester United up, 2-1. That was the score entering halftime, and PSG were still considerable favorites to advance with a one-goal advantage on aggregate. The second half was tense and Manchester United absorbed pressure and build-up play from PSG to keep the lead at 2-1. The Red Devils still needed to score to advance and it was looking bleak as the minutes crunched down. A long-range shot in the 90th minute was deflected by PSG’s Kimpembe and out for a corner. Or so they thought. Is this a handball? 🧐 What do you think? pic.twitter.com/14RSmx6Zfy — Bleacher Report Live (@brlive) March 6, 2019 Newly instituted VAR (video assistant referee) took another look at the blocked shot and deemed it was a handball offense. While harsh, it was likely the correct decision. Marcus Rashford calmly stepped up and converted at the spot to make it 3-1 Manchester United. United survived an additional five minutes of stoppage time to secure the upset and advance to the Champions League quarterfinals. The 53% of bettors on the over (3) were also thankful for the late goal to cash their wagers. Manchester United join Ajax, Porto and Tottenham in the quarterfinals with four Round of 16 match-ups still to be determined next week: Barcelona-Lyon, Liverpool-Bayern Munich, Man City-Schalke and Juventus-Atletico Madrid. It should also be noted that two other underdogs advanced entering the second leg with a deficit: Ajax were +750 against Real Madrid, and Porto were +155 vs. Roma.<doc-sep>History may have been against them in Paris, but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Manchester United are made of something special and the moment Romelu Lukaku scored in the second minute it seemed like something special was in the air. Here are the pick of the stats and facts after a remarkable evening at the Parc des Princes. Ligue 1 Few are worried Poch is leaving PSG for Tottenham - French View A DAY AGO – Manchester United became the first team in Champions League history to qualify for the next round having lost the first leg of a knockout match at home by two or more goals. – Romelu Lukaku’s first goal after 111 seconds was Man Utd’s fastest in a Champions League knockout match since Wayne Rooney scored after 63 seconds against Bayern Munich in March 2010. – Since the start of last season, the only Premier League players to score more goals in all competitions than Man Utd’s Romelu Lukaku (42) are Mo Salah (64), Harry Kane (64) and Sergio Aguero (55). – Since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first match in charge on December 22nd, only Manchester City (15) have won more matches in all competitions than Man Utd (14) among teams in the top five European leagues. – Manchester United have now scored in 21 consecutive away matches in all competitions, equalling the club record set between November 1956 and September 1957 under Sir Matt Busby. – Mason Greenwood became the youngest player to appear for Manchester United in the Champions League, aged 17 years and 156 days, breaking the record held by Gerard Pique (17y 310d). – PSG conceded with three of the four shots on target they faced in this game and have been eliminated at the last 16 stage in each of the last three Champions League seasons. – PSG have lost seven of their last 12 Champions League knockout matches (W4 D1), including each of their last two at the Parc des Princes. Stats courtesy of Opta Europa League Parker: Solskjaer's preparation for Europa League final was wrong YESTERDAY AT 12:04<doc-sep>'I didn't believe they could do it' - Ferdinand stunned by Man Utd turnaround against PSG The former defender was shocked that his former club was able to overcome a first leg defeat against the French side Rio Ferdinand admitted that he didn't believe that Manchester United could overcome Paris Saint-Germain after losing the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie 2-0 at Old Trafford. The Red Devils did just that on Wednesday as a Marcus Rashford penalty sealed a 3-1 victory and Man Utd's progression on away goals. The result at Parc des Princes was a stunning one, as a pair of first-half goals from Romelu Lukaku saw the Red Devils capitalise on mistakes from Thilo Kehrer and Gianluigi Buffon. And Old Trafford legend Ferdinand confirmed that he was stunned by the result, one which sends Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side into the quarter-finals of the competition. "I didn't have the confidence in these boys to do it, with 10 boys out, I didn't see this result coming after the way PSG played in the first leg," Ferdinand said on BT Sport. "Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was brave with his team selection, he had three teenagers on the pitch, the character of these players after the starvation of moments like this. The confidence this will give them. "Ole has brought belief back to this team. People were doubting Lukaku - he's one of many who has been given a new lease of life. "I don't think it's a penalty but turning your back, as a defender, you get punished for things like that." Fellow BT Sport analyst Michael Owen echoed that point, saying he didn not believe in his former club before Solskajer came in to replace Jose Mourinho. "When this draw was made I gave Manchester United no chance whatsoever. They were playing awful football under Jose Mourinho, they had no chance," he said. "What a difference, the whole spirit has changed - it's quite frightening how they've gone through tonight. "With a neutral head I don't think it's a penalty in a million years. It's not a penalty for me or anybody in this room." Owen was also quick to praise Rashford, who stepped up to take the crucial penalty that essentially decided Man Utd's fate. It was Rashford's first competitive penalty for the club, and the young forward buried it with a thumping effort past Buffon. Article continues below "There's no fun in that as a penalty talker - it's just relief," Owen said. "When that hits the net, it's a case of thank everything! In that position you just go numb. "Others may feel differently but you just do it to be a leader."<doc-sep>
Chicharito can't hide his Man Utd affection as he revels in stunning PSG scalp The West Ham striker, who previously spent five years on the Red Devils' books, has welcomed Champions League progress for his former side Javier Hernandez is “not going to lie” and admits he was thrilled to see former club Manchester United dump Paris Saint-Germain out of the Champions League. The Mexico international striker is currently a Premier League rival of the Red Devils having returned to English football at West Ham in 2017. He does, however, boast strong ties to another United having previously spent five years on the books at Old Trafford between 2010 and 2015. Chicharito admits that the Red Devils still hold a special place in his heart and he was as pleased as anybody to see Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side secure a thrilling 3-1 win in France on Wednesday and book their place in the quarter-finals of Europe’s elite club competition. The 30-year-old frontman told Sky Sports: “Right now I'm in a British league, so I want any club from England to win the Champions League. “Of course, my old club, Manchester United, that type of comeback was the typical United way. “I'm very glad, I'm not going to lie. The West Ham fans know how important that club is for me. They gave me the opportunity. “I think England is glad when every British team goes through a round in the Champions League. “I think the most important thing is seeing a very important club like Manchester United getting back to those positions.” United had headed into the second leg of a heavyweight meeting with PSG trailing 2-0 on aggregate. They were, however, to turn the tie on its head with a stunning showing at Parc des Princes. Article continues below Two goals from Romelu Lukaku offered Solskjaer’s side hope, before a VAR-assisted penalty in stoppage-time allowed Marcus Rashford to complete a remarkable turnaround. United are now waiting to discover who they will be paired with in the last eight draw on March 15. Hernandez, meanwhile, is chasing down a top-half finish in the Premier League with West Ham and has a reunion with the Red Devils to look forward to at Old Trafford on April 13.