Man Utd goalkeeper Altay Bayindir. (Image: Getty)
Altay Bayindir treated his team-mates to a meal to celebrate his Player of the Match performance in Sunday’s victory against . The Red Devils’ back-up goalkeeper conjured up heroics at the Emirates Stadium as the holders defied the odds to progress into the fourth round.
Bayindir had only made four appearances since joining from Fenerbahce in 2023 ahead of the heavyweight third-round clash.
His inclusion sparked nerves among supporters after an uninspiring previous performance as United exited the Carabao Cup quarter-finals with a 4-3 defeat at .
A nervy first-half display against the Gunners didn’t boost confidence, but the Turkish international sprung into life after the interval.
Bayindir produced a series of crucial stops to deny Declan Rice from close range and became the first goalkeeper to save a Martin Odegaard penalty when the captain had the chance to fire the hosts into the lead.
United fought for over 70 minutes with 10 men after Diogo Dalot’s second-half sending-off before winning on penalties.
, Amad, Lisandro Martinez, Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee scored five perfect spot-kicks as Bayindir came up with another decisive save to keep ‘s effort out.
Andre Onana watched on from the bench, a role that was alien to him under ‘s reluctant rotation.
Andre Onana hailed Man Utd pal Altay Bayindir. (Image: Getty)
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The United No. 24 is expected to return between the sticks in tonight’s clash against Southampton at Old Trafford.
Ahead of the must-win meeting with the rock-bottom Saints, Onana hailed his fellow goalkeeper and explained how the team celebrated Bayindir’s valiant performance.
“We all congratulated him because he did a fantastic job. We are all proud of him,” Onana told the ahead of the Southampton game.
“He’s here for a year and a half, or even more, and he’s working hard every day. Now he gets his reward. He deserves it.
“He invited us, by the way, to the restaurant [after the game] because he had such a nice performance.
“Hopefully, he’s going to invite us more, much more, because that means he will continue playing like this!”
Bayindir will be in the frame for more minutes in the coming weeks, with Rangers visiting Old Trafford in the Europa League next Thursday.
There is also a trip to FCSB on the horizon, while his match-winning moments against earned United an FA Cup fourth-round meeting with Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Leicester.