Nigeria’s goalkeeper Francis Uzoho put in a masterclass performance against Manchester United pulling off series of excellent saves to deny Cristiano Ronaldo and Co before succumbing to a late strike from Scott McTominay.
United were playing hosts to Nicosia in the Europa League, with Erik ten Hag picking a largely full strength team against opposition they would have been expected to beat easily.
The hosts were dominant for most of the half but failed to find a way past Uzoho, who was playing in just his third club game of the season.
The Nigerian goalkeeper was in imperious form, and his save to keep out a long range effort from Casemiro, which would have been the midfielder’s first for the club, was the highlight of the first half performance.
In a match described by the goalkeeper as a dream come true, the goalkeeper was in imperious form earning plaudits from many quarters which warranted comparison with goalkeeping greats.
“Prime Buffon, Schmeichel, etc rolled into one tonight,” one fan exclaimed, comparing the 23-year-old to some of the best keepers in football history.
“Audition for De Gea job,” another fan said, with the Spanish goalkeeper’s potential replacement having been recently pointed out by United fans.
Another added, “Uzoho turns prime Manuel Neuer playing against his boyhood club at Old Trafford. Rashford has tried everything against him – good saves every time from the Nigerian goalkeeper.”