The darkest point is probably always before sunrise. Was Harry Maguire’s late equalizer in Manchester United’s 3-0 defeat to Tottenham? Because beforehand Erik ten Hag led his men into an increasingly gloomy pitch black. From 2-0 to 2-2 in seven minutes in the first half, to a third that seemed to kill United, and then Bruno Fernandes’ second red card in two games. This made Ten Hag’s term of office seem to fade into oblivion.

Maybe so: the Dutch manager likes to joke that he is not Harry Potter. The escape here with a draw has him looking like Harry Houdini tonight. But how long can he escape Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s ax?

It is now just one win in ten European appearances, so tune in for United’s trip to Aston Villa on Sunday for the next episode of the soap opera Ten Hag. Unlike Spurs, United got off to the dream start, thanks to Marcus Rashford. Zigzagging from the left, his package of speed and tricks took him into Porto territory. The shot was intense, but on the near side of Diogo Costa, so he should have parried it. Instead, the ball squeezed under the goalkeeper’s body and inside.

It was a party for the 2,500 traveling fans. For the rest of the 50,000 capacity crowd, there was a feeling that pierced the party atmosphere of the Estádio do Dragão. Swirling smoke, lights, epic sounding songs and glittering silver rectangles held aloft were the pre-show aesthetic. Now United were on the rise and Porto seemed to be regrouping.

Alan Varela turned in a corner from the right and Rashford controlled the ball with his chest and punched the ball clear. Back in United’s area, the ball dropped and Matthijs de Ligt helped clear it up. Further robust defending came from Lisandro Martínez: Samu received the ball in front of André Onana’s goal, turned 180 degrees and released, but the central defender was there to block.

This was all feel-good stuff from United, and the sensation increased. Ten Hag had set up a leggy-looking midfield with Casemiro and Christian Eriksen, while Kobbie Mainoo was unavailable and Manuel Ugarte on the bench. But Eriksen’s early-season form was bright, producing a muscular strike through the center circle and a no-look pass that found Rashford. He too was singing and the sweetly effective pass that played in Rasmus Højlund was the latest illustration.

The Danish striker fired a shot on his first start this season and again Costa conceded at his near post. Højlund ran to the United bench to celebrate with David Binningsley, a physio who was crucial to his recovery from a hamstring problem.

Could this dominance continue? No, was the quick answer. United returned to disintegration mode, allowing Samu to get up and pass to Onana: the keeper clawed the ball out, but only into Pepê’s path and he stooped to finish. The arena’s volume turned up again and Porto soon equalized. Again, it was too easy. Close to his area, an unfortunate De Ligt mis-kicked and the ball spiraled upwards. His header attempt failed and possession was cleared to João Mário on the right. A chip was met by Samu, who went home; De Ligt, the nearest defender and again ineffective.

De Ligt had a nightmare. Another fluffy kick gave Porto possession and United barely survived the foray that made it possible. Their best hope was an attack. Højlund raced to the left and missed marginally with a pass across the goal for Amad Diallo. Then he and Casemiro were unable to finish from close range as the ball fell between them. Rashford closed the half with a jet-heeled run but hesitated and that was the end of the attack.

A crucial 45 minutes for Ten Hag’s job prospects began when Rashford was replaced by Alejandro Garnacho, presumably due to a fitness issue as the number 10 had been powerful. Yet United’s weakness persisted as Francisco Moura raced down the left channel from deep, as Micky van de Ven did to create Spurs’ first goal on Sunday. Moura shot and Onana saved.

Even worse followed. This time the attack took place along Porto’s right, by Pepê, who Martínez could not catch, and whose cross was shot in by Samu; De Ligt is again the patsy and cannot reach the striker. United were shocked.

Ugarte was certainly not fit to participate despite being a substitute, otherwise Ten Hag would have called him up to strengthen the gaping midfield. Garnacho, on his left flank, was United’s best hope of finding an equalizer: a ridiculous sentence to write after leading 2-0 and cruising.

Fernandes walked for a second yellow card for a high boot. Then came Maguire’s intervention. United: very surreal under Ten Hag. An extremely sympathetic man, who may soon be history.