Redemption for Maguire, Onana as United Wins in Champions League after Tributes to Charlton 

Manchester United's goalkeeper Andre Onana, right, celebrates with teammates after makes a save penalty shoot during the Champions League group A match between Manchester United and Copenhagen at the Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, England, Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023. (AP)
Manchester United's goalkeeper Andre Onana, right, celebrates with teammates after makes a save penalty shoot during the Champions League group A match between Manchester United and Copenhagen at the Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, England, Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023. (AP)
TT
20

Redemption for Maguire, Onana as United Wins in Champions League after Tributes to Charlton 

Manchester United's goalkeeper Andre Onana, right, celebrates with teammates after makes a save penalty shoot during the Champions League group A match between Manchester United and Copenhagen at the Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, England, Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023. (AP)
Manchester United's goalkeeper Andre Onana, right, celebrates with teammates after makes a save penalty shoot during the Champions League group A match between Manchester United and Copenhagen at the Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, England, Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023. (AP)

A night of remembrance for Bobby Charlton turned into a night of redemption for Harry Maguire and Andre Onana.

Two of Manchester United's most maligned players this season came to the rescue Tuesday with big second-half moments in a 1-0 win over FC Copenhagen that ignited the English team's qualification hopes in the Champions League.

There were boos inside Old Trafford at halftime of the first match at the stadium since the death of Charlton on Saturday, with United’s players unable to use emotions stirred by the memory of the club great to make any headway against the group outsiders from Denmark.

The jeers turned to cheers for Maguire when the oft-maligned center back headed home a cross from substitute Christian Eriksen in the 72nd minute.

Onana, another player under pressure in the early stage of this season, preserved the win with a penalty save off the last kick of the game, clawing away the shot of Jordan Larsson — the son of former United striker Henrik Larsson — that was taken in the seventh minute of stoppage time.

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

After back-to-back losses to open Group A, this was a huge victory for Erik ten Hag’s team ahead of the return match against Copenhagen in two weeks.

They are potentially huge moments, too, for Maguire and Onana.

Maguire's United career looked over when he was stripped of the captaincy in the offseason and appeared close to a move to West Ham.

Maguire stayed, has continued to get game time with the England national team, and now seems back in Ten Hag’s good books, having started United’s last three games in all competitions.

It was his first goal since February 2022 and he looked emotional after planting his downward header into the net at the far post.

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

As for Onana, he arrived under pressure to change United's style of play through his distribution from the back. The Cameroon goalkeeper has made a number of high-profile errors, though, leading many to wonder whether United was right to dispense of long-time keeper David de Gea.

This was arguably Onana's best game for United, marked not just by the penalty save after Scott McTominay's foul on Mohamed Elyounoussi, but by his wonderful flying stop to keep out Lukas Lerager's powerful drive in the 50th minute.

The evening began and ended with chants of “There's only one Bobby Charlton” swirling around Old Trafford as fans paid their respects to one of England’s World Cup winners from 1966 who is widely considered United’s greatest player.

There were pre-match tributes to Charlton, including Ten Hag laying a wreath in the center circle before an impeccably observed minute’s silence.

“Losing someone like Sir Bobby, it affects the club and the dressing room,” Maguire. “But really pleased we could get the win tonight.”



Verstappen Wins Japanese Grand Prix for His First Victory of F1 Season

Formula One F1 - Japanese Grand Prix - Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka, Japan - April 6, 2025 Red Bull's Max Verstappen celebrates on the podium after winning the Japanese Grand Prix. (Reuters)
Formula One F1 - Japanese Grand Prix - Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka, Japan - April 6, 2025 Red Bull's Max Verstappen celebrates on the podium after winning the Japanese Grand Prix. (Reuters)
TT
20

Verstappen Wins Japanese Grand Prix for His First Victory of F1 Season

Formula One F1 - Japanese Grand Prix - Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka, Japan - April 6, 2025 Red Bull's Max Verstappen celebrates on the podium after winning the Japanese Grand Prix. (Reuters)
Formula One F1 - Japanese Grand Prix - Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka, Japan - April 6, 2025 Red Bull's Max Verstappen celebrates on the podium after winning the Japanese Grand Prix. (Reuters)

Max Verstappen of Red Bull won Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix and broke a "mini-slump" of only two wins in his previous 16 races.

It was the Dutch driver's fourth straight victory on the Suzuka circuit in central Japan and breaks the momentum of the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who won the season’s first two races in Melbourne, Australia, and Shanghai, China.

The four-time defending Formula 1 champion, Verstappen started from pole position after setting a course-record time in qualifying, which he called "insane." Norris placed second and Piastri was third. The track was dry despite rain earlier in the day to produce an incident-free race.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc finished fourth followed by George Russell of Mercedes and teammate Kimi Antonelli in sixth. Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda finished 12th in his first drive with Red Bull's top team.

"We keep pushing," Verstappen said. "Unbelievable. A great weekend for us."

Norris leads the driver’s standings after three races with 62 points to 61 for Verstappen.

The weekend turned when Verstappen took the pole on his record last lap Saturday in qualifying.

"If was fun, just pushing very hard at the end," Verstappen said. "The two McLarens were pushing very hard. We didn’t give up improving the car and today it was in its best form."

"Of course, starting on the pole — that's what make it possible to win this race."

Winning in Japan again with Red Bull and engine supplier Honda was important for Verstappen.

"It means a lot to me. It was in the back of my mind those last few laps, I was like ‘Wow, I need to try and stay ahead. It would be a great story, you know, our final like kind of farewell race together with Honda here in Japan.’

"I’m incredibly proud of what we have achieved, of course, over all those years together, and I think it’s just like a perfect send off."

Sunday's start was clean with Verstappen taking the lead with the top starters on the grid falling into line behind him. Verstappen slowly stretched his lead and was two seconds ahead of Norris after 10 of 53 laps and kept the same advantage after 15.

Most of the leaders pitted around the 20-lap mark. Verstappen and Norris exited the pits at almost exactly the same time with Norris driving over the grass, unable to get by Verstappen.

"He drove himself into the grass," Verstappen said on the radio.

Stewards said almost immediately the incident did not merit further investigation.

Antonelli led briefly in the middle of the race. At 18 he is the youngest to ever lead in F1 race.

Verstappen was back in the lead after 32 laps, only 1.3 seconds ahead of Norris and 3.4 up on Piastri. On the 36th lap the radio told him: "Push from here."

He did just that, pushing all the way to his 64th career win.