sport news Manchester United 2-3 Galatasaray: Mauro Icardi scores late winner after ... trends now
One step forward, two steps back. This, sadly, has been the story of Manchester United’s season and it continued catastrophically here at Old Trafford.
Twice they led through the excellent Rasmus Hojlund, twice they were pegged back by former United man Wilfried Zaha and Dries Mertens.
Just when Erik ten Hag’s side thought they had caught a break after Mauro Icardi missed a penalty following Casemiro’s sending-off, the Italian punished more shambolic defending from United to inflict a sixth defeat in 10 games on them this season.
Not only have United made their worst start to a Premier League season, they have now kicked off the Champions League with back-to-back defeats in Group A. These are dark days indeed.
Ten Hag responded to Saturday’s defeat to Crystal Palace here by recalling Hannibal Mejbri for a Champions League debut which only lasted until half-time.
Mauro Icardi scored the winner for Galatasaray at Old Trafford on Tuesday night
Erik ten Hag has watched his team lose five of their last seven games
United started brightly, just as they did in the defeat to Bayern Munich in the group opener a fortnight ago.
Hojlund looked particularly lively and the game was just over a minute old when he muscled past Sacha Boey to fire in a cross and Bruno Fernandes couldn’t get enough on his finish.
Hannibal’s first touch let him down when Casemiro dinked a ball over the top, but it was clear that United were trying to get the ball forward early and it paid off in the 17th minute.
Again it was Casemiro who swung a pass down the right channel for Marcus Rashford to chase, closely pursued by Abdulkerim Bardakci.
Rashford has been criticised for his decision-making and lack of understanding with Hojlund, but this time he got it just right. The ball guided to the edge of the six-yard box was just out of Davinson Sanchez’s reach but perfect for Hojlund to head home his second Champions League goal of the season.
However, this is a Galatasaray side full of players with Premier League and European experience, and they were not about to be swept away in the Manchester rain.
Casemiro was sent off after hauling down Dries Mertens in the box in the second half
