- Christian Eriksen’s innocuous corner flicked in off Jack Butland’s knuckles
- The glaring gaffe handed United a crucial lead in the Europa League showdown
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Manchester United took a bizarre lead against Rangers in the Europa League after goalkeeper Jack Butland comically punched the ball into his own net.
Christian Eriksen’s corner early in the second half looked easy pickings for the stopper but the ball clipped the back of his glove before dropping behind him.
A slick United move saw Bruno Fernandes’ strike from inside the box deflected over and from the resulting corner, Eriksen delivered innocuously into the box.
Butland, who spent a brief spell on loan at Old Trafford in 2023, raced off his line to fist clear but horribly misjudged his attempted clearance under pressure.
Instead, the ball skewed away off his knuckles and skidded into the net.
The 31-year-old was visibly dejected after his mistake and took a few seconds on the ground to gather himself before rising slowly to his feet.
Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland punched into his own net against Manchester United
Butland’s attempted clearance saw the ball flick off his glove before dropping into the net
The stopper was visibly dejected after the error before he climbed slowly back to his feet
United had seen a goal controversially disallowed from another set piece earlier in the day but Matthijs de Ligt’s header was chalked off after a foul from Leny Yoro.
Yoro was adjudged to have pushed over Davy Propper after the ball was whipped in.
Rangers legend Ally McCoist was gobsmacked by the gaffe. ‘Where do I start with that?’ he said on TNT Sports’ live coverage. ‘It’s just a howler.
‘No excuse for that. That’s a really poor error. Jack Butland has got to do better.’
