Manchester United worked hard but Copenhagen's Karl-Johan Johnsson worked harder in Monday night's Europa League quarter-final clash! Despite being on the losing end, the 30-year-old goalkeeper pulled off a monsterous performance to earn plaudit as the Red Devils strolled into the semi-final with a narrow 1-0 victory.
With Ståle Solbakken's men proving inefficient in the defensive half of the Premier League outfit, it took the uncompromising nature Johnsson to ensure that his side ended the night with a respectable concession rate. In the entirety of the night's match which was short of goalscoring chances, Manchester United had 14 shots on target.
Bar Bruno Fernandes' 95th-minute goal, 13 of these attempts were successfully saved by the of the Swedish shot-stopper. Seven of the saves were pulled off from shots dispatched inside Copenhagen's penalty box whereas the remaining six were from outside attempts. Perhaps, the most remarkable among the bunch was the save of Juan Mata's goal-bound half-chance while the game approached its climax.
Quite fittingly, Karl-Johan Johnsson set a new record, becoming the goalkeeper with the most saves in a single Europa League game in history. Below are a few reactions by fans:
Every big club in Europe watching the Copenhagen goalkeeper tonight pic.twitter.com/PltcrCOye2
— Josh Knowles (@JoshKno41217787) August 10, 2020
Oh how I wish that Copenhagen goalkeeper could save me from my misery
— Niklaus Mikaelson (@dushan_munsami) August 10, 2020
13 Saves from Copenhagen Goalkeeper,but the job was done for Devils
— Hamisi Kambi (@Hamisikambi5) August 10, 2020
See you in semi final pic.twitter.com/5C1XtgdL8i
Credit to Copenhagen for their efforts tonight though, they also need to give that goalkeeper a new contract ASAP
— WHF! (@mufcwesleyy) August 10, 2020
Nobody:
— mochi (@scouseone_) August 10, 2020
The Copenhagen goalkeeper tonight: pic.twitter.com/6XZUuEZE4S
Hats off to FC Copenhagen goalkeeper
— The Mayor of Ibadan (@Iam_mayorkush) August 10, 2020
copenhagen with a good goalkeeper. of course monchi buys the blind one instead https://t.co/3Yx6KMXmwb
— tottiana (@scudzeko) August 10, 2020
Copenhagen's goalkeeper easily man of the match
— Oreoluwa (@oreoluwa_exx) August 10, 2020
Copenhagen's goalkeeper is every strikers nightmare
— Sukr3i (@RabbyGem) August 10, 2020
Copenhagen keeper Karl-Johan Johnsson made 13 saves in 120 minutes tonight.
— Owuraku Ampofo (@_owurakuampofo) August 10, 2020
Which makes 23% of the total saves Kepa made over the Premier League season (55)
And 100% of the total saves Kepa made since the restart (13)
pic.twitter.com/8ttdkXlVgK