I spotted Ruud van Nistelrooy's strange Man United request as Erik ten Hag was on the brink

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Manchester United somehow added another point to their tally in the Europa League after a dramatic 3-3 draw against FC Porto - on Thursday night at the iconic Estadio do Dragao.

United had started perfectly as both Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund beat Diogo Costa at his near post to give them a 2-0 advantage inside 20 minutes. However, things turned drastically seven minutes later when Pepe scored from close range as Lisandro Martinez got caught napping.

Just 15 minutes after taking a two-goal lead, United were pegged back to level terms as Samu Omorodion beat Matthijs de Ligt in the air to head home. Five minutes after the restart and the comeback was complete as Pepe and Omorodion caught the backline cold - with the latter adding his second of the game.

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A defeat looked to be confirmed on 81 minutes when Bruno Fernandes was sent off for a second yellow card, not to mention for the second match running. But substitute Harry Maguire stepped up in stoppage time to spare Erik ten Hag's blushes as he powered home a header to make it 3-3.

After that absorbing contest in Portugal, The Manchester Evening News has taken a closer look at some moments you may have missed from the game.

Van Nistelrooy's strange request

It is very rare that anybody wants to be booked during a match, but that appeared to be the case when it came to Ruud van Nistelrooy. Following Omorodion's equaliser, Ten Hag was captured studying the goal to see what exactly went wrong.

However, Van Nistelrooy appeared to be egging on referee Tobias Stieler to book him, which the German official duly did. It is not clear exactly why the former Dutch striker was cautioned - but it is likely to be for a comment he made on the touchline in the wake of the second Porto goal.

Ten Hag's reaction to Porto's third goal

Earlier this week, ex-United coach Benni McCarthy insisted that Ten Hag lacked "passion" and "desire" to be a top coach in world football. And the Dutchman did little to prove the South African wrong as Porto added their third against United.

Perhaps it was shell-shock that led to Ten Hag standing motionless after the goal went in, but it was not a great look especially when your desire has been questioned. Being cool and level-headed is all well and good, but his players needed instructions, leadership and a bit of fire from the dugout after chucking away a two-goal lead and that was not forthcoming from the United manager.

United's old habits die hard

Continuing with the aftermath to that third goal and, while the United boss was motionless, the players were anything but. The cameras picked up the players appearing to be bickering between themselves as the inquest began into what went wrong.

While holding each other to account is fundamental in elite-level sport, it is becoming routine to see the players embroiled in arguments as the opposition celebrates. It is a worrying habit, which perhaps does not reflect kindly on the squad, especially amid their current form.

Heart-warming Hojlund moment

Finishing the moments missed on a happy note, Hojlund took the time to celebrate his goal against Porto with physio David Binningsley. Thursday night was the Dane's first start since being injured during pre-season and he, clearly, is grateful to the medical team for their hard work while he was side-lined.

Hojlund will hope his first goal of the campaign will kick-start a goal-scoring spree in the weeks to come.

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