Alejandro Garnacho is caught scuffing penalty spot moments before Andre Onana denied Jordan Larsson from 12 yards deep into injury time to secure vital Champions League win for Man United

• Garnacho was caught scuffing penalty spot before vital save from Onana
• The goalkeeper’s stop earned United first Champions League win of the season
• Follow Mail Sport’s new Man United WhatsApp channel for all the breaking news

Alejandro Garnacho was caught on camera scuffing the penalty spot at Old Trafford in the build-up to Andre Onana’s game-winning spot-kick save against FC Copenhagen.

Footage shows the Manchester United man stamping on the spot using both of his feet whilst referee Marco Guida was busy dealing with remonstrating players. 

Copenhagen’s Jordan Larsson still struck his effort from 12 yards sweetly despite the Argentine’s attempts to intervene, and was only denied by a magnificent stop from Onana as the goalkeeper dived to his left. 

Both United boss Erik ten Hag and his Copenhagen counterpart Jacob Neestrup were unaware of what Garnacho had done. 

Ten Hag said: ‘I didn’t see it. The referee probably didn’t see it either. I don’t know.’ 

Footage shows Alejandro Garnacho scuffing the penalty spot ahead of Copenhagen’s penalty

Copenhagen’s Jordan Larsson went on to see his effort from 12 yards saved by Andre Onana

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We may never know if Garnacho’s dabble with football’s dark arts disrupted Larsson, but it set up a dramatic ending to an emotional evening at Old Trafford. 

Onana, who was criticised for his performances in United’s Champions League defeats to Bayern Munich and Galatasaray, turned out to be the hero as he kept out Larsson from the spot after also producing a brilliant save from Lukas Lerager to keep his side on level terms earlier in the game. 

It was another of United’s under-fire players who notched the winning goal, with former captain Harry Maguire heading home a Christian Eriksen cross in the 72nd minute. 

The Engand international admitted afterwards that ‘it was meant to be’ for him to score winner following a torrid 12 months at the club, yet he still stressed that the evening belonged to a former Manchester United great. 

Onana was still forced to make an expert stop after Scott McTominay gave away a late penalty

Harry Maguire proved to be the goal-scoring hero for United, heading in a Christian Eriksen cross in the second half

The Copenhagen tie was United’s first home game since the passing of Sir Bobby Charlton, and tributes were paid to the World Cup winner on an emotional night in Manchester. 

Paul Scholes and Rio Ferdinand both recalled their memories of Sir Bobby during TNT Sport’s coverage of the game before Ten Hag laid a wreath in his honour on the Old Trafford pitch.

Both sets of players observed a minute’s silence ahead of kick-off, with Copenhagen fans then singing the name of the England great and unveiling a banner in the away end that read: ‘Passion is what separates the good from the great. Rest in Peace Sir Bobby Charlton.’

United plan to further commemorate Sir Bobby at Sunday’s game against Man City when they will hold a minute’s applause and show expressions of fan remembrance with flags and surfer banners in the stadium.

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