Manchester United are on the point of an early exit from the Champions League after blowing a 2-0 result in lose 4-3 on Wednesday to FC Copenhagen as Marcus Rashford was sent-off within the Danish capital.
Rasmus Hojlund appeared to have come again to hang-out his former membership by scoring twice inside half an hour.
But Rashford’s sending-off swung the future of the match and presumably sealed United’s destiny with a 3rd defeat in 4 video games in Group A.
Mohamed Elyounoussi and Diogo Goncalves levelled for Copenhagen earlier than half-time.
Bruno Fernandes’ penalty briefly put United again in entrance, however two objectives within the last seven minutes from Lukas Lerager and 17-year-old Roony Bardghji handed Copenhagen their first Champions League win since 2016.
United sink to the underside of the group, one level behind Galatasaray and Copenhagen, with two video games left to play.
The Red Devils journey to Galatasaray in three weeks’ time earlier than internet hosting runaway group winners Bayern Munich.
Defeat will once more ramp up the strain on United boss Erik ten Hag after 9 defeats in 17 video games this season.
But the Dutchman will replicate on what may need been however for Rashford’s dismissal after a superb opening half an hour.
“We played very good until the red card. The red card changed everything. Then it becomes a different game,” mentioned Ten Hag.
“It is harsh decision. He was going for the ball.”
Copenhagen boss Jacob Neestrup claimed United can be met with an environment “100 times” extra intense than his facet confronted at Old Trafford two weeks in the past.
But the locals had been shortly quieted by considered one of their very own inside three minutes.
Hojlund remains to be to attain his first Premier League aim since a £64 million ($78 million) transfer from Atalanta however is now the joint prime scorer within the Champions League this season with 5 in 4 video games.
He couldn’t miss after being picked out by Scott McTominay on the again put up for a faucet in after a wonderful workforce transfer to open the scoring.
Hojlund was once more in the correct place for a easy end to make it 2-0 after Kamil Grabara parried Alejandro Garnacho’s preliminary effort.
Momentum swing
However, the momentum fully swung when Rashford’s tough season took one other flip for the more severe.
There appeared no malice from the England worldwide, however his studs caught Elias Jelert on the ankle as he tried to guard the ball and, after a VAR overview, he was proven purple.
The 10 males failed to right away settle and had been punished as Elyounoussi turned in Goncalves’ intelligent ball again throughout aim.
Thirteen minutes had been added on the finish of the primary half on account of an earlier delay brought on by a medical emergency within the stands and United’s lead didn’t survive till the break.
Andre Onana saved Jordan Larsson’s penalty within the final motion of the sport in United’s 1-0 win when the edges final met.
Goncalves had been withdrawn by that stage a fortnight in the past, however he took duty from the spot and coolly despatched Onana the mistaken means.
The roles had been reversed as VAR got here to United’s rescue within the second half to penalise a handball by Denis Vavro and Fernandes emphatically smashed residence the ensuing penalty.
The guests, although, failed to carry out for a significant three factors.
Diogo Dalot was caught napping as Lerager stole in on the far put up to bundle the ball previous Onana to offer Copenhagen recent hope.
Teenage substitute Bardghji then produced a fairytale end for the hosts as he smashed a volley into the bottom and past Onana after Harry Maguire did not clear a cross into the field.
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