Manchester United conceded an embarrassing early goal before slumping to a 2-1 loss at Champions League newcomers Istanbul Basaksehir on Wednesday (Thursday NZT), throwing their group wide open.
Demba Ba, a 35-year-old striker who used to play in the Premier League, was allowed to run through on goal unopposed from 15 metres inside Basaksehir’s own half and slot home a finish to give the Turkish champions a 13th-minute lead and their first ever Champions League goal.
United’s defending was almost as shoddy for the second goal, with midfielder Juan Mata dispossessed near the halfway line and Basaksehir midfielder Edin Visca left unmarked – following a dummy by Ba – to slam a rising shot into the net in the 40th minute.
Anthony Martial reduced the deficit for United by glancing in a header three minutes later, but the English team failed to get anywhere the level of their displays in wins over Paris Saint-Germain and Leipzig in the first two rounds of matches, despite incessant pressure in the second half.
Basaksehir’s first win in the Champions League was sealed when defender Alexandru Epureanu cleared the ball acrobatically off the line following a scramble in the area with seconds remaining in stoppage time.
The Turkish team had previously lost against PSG and Leipzig without scoring, and are languishing in seventh place in their domestic league in a disappointing start to their title defence.
“You don’t just turn up and get three points in the Champions League,” United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said.
“We weren’t good enough, that’s it. It’s not easy to be positive when you’ve lost the way we did.”
Solskjaer described the opening goal his side conceded as “unforgivable”.
Seconds after a United corner, another cross by the visitors was blocked and Visca was content to clear the ball out of his own area. Ba was well inside his own half but there wasn’t a United player anywhere near him as he latched onto the long ball forward, advanced towards the area, and beat goalkeeper Dean Henderson – selected ahead of David de Gea – with a low shot.
It revived memories of a famous goal Ba scored for Chelsea at Anfield in 2014, in a late-season defeat for Liverpool that cost the team a shot at winning the Premier League. On that occasion, a slip by Steven Gerrard let Ba run free but this time it was a simple clearance.
“I think we started OK, then gave a goal away – I don’t know how,” United midfielder Donnie Van De Beek said. “I think we lost our confidence after that.”
With back-to-back wins over the two semifinalists from last season – and scoring seven goals in the process – United seemed to be on their way to advancing from Group H early.
But the loss in Istanbul gives both PSG and Leipzig renewed hope ahead of their meeting in Germany, and increases the concerns at United, who lost 1-0 at home to Arsenal on Sunday (Monday NZT) to slip to 15th place in the Premier League.
“The result has set us back a lot,” Solskjaer said. “You get a reality check when you play a game like this.”
Basaksehir’s lineup included Brazilian defender Rafael da Silva, a former United player.
Werner continues goal streak
Chelsea swept to a 3-0 win over 10-man Rennes after Dalbert was sent off for conceding two first-half penalties converted by Timo Werner.
The Brazilian defender was booked for tripping Werner in the penalty area in the ninth minute, then received his second yellow card just before halftime when a shot by Tammy Abraham struck Dalbert’s leg and ricocheted up onto his outstretched arm.
Werner, seemingly now on spot-kick duties ahead of Jorginho, dispatched both penalties to give Chelsea a two-goal lead by halftime, and Abraham added the third goal in the 50th minute.
Chelsea’s second straight win in Group E kept the English team in first place, courtesy of its superior goal difference over Sevilla, and on course for a place in the knockout stage. Rennes look to be battling with fellow competition newcomers Krasnodar for third place and a spot in the Europa League’s last 32, with both on one point.
Chelsea were without Germany playmaker Kai Havertz, who was self-isolating after contracting the coronavirus.
The match at an empty Stamford Bridge saw Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy up against the club he left in September. He finished with a clean sheet after making his only necessary save off a shot from Clement Grenier late on and has yet to concede a goal in six matches in all competitions, including three in the Champions League.
Mendy embraced his former team-mates after the final whistle.
Werner now has six goals in his last six matches as he settles in quickly at Chelsea in his first season at the club. With Christian Pulisic also missing as he recovers from a hamstring niggle, Werner played on the left wing to accommodate Abraham as the central striker.
Werner’s penalties were unforgiving, his first low down to goalkeeper Alfred Gomis’ right and his second into the roof of the net on the same side.
Abraham’s goal came following a perfect cross by right-back Reece James, which the England striker met with a sidefooted finish into the net from the edge of the six-yard box.
Lazio earn late point
A late equaliser from Felipe Caicedo gave understrength Lazio a 1-1 draw at Zenit St. Petersburg to stay unbeaten in Group F.
Caicedo redirected a cross from Francesco Acerbi eight minutes from time after Aleksandr Erokhin had given Zenit a first-half lead.
Lazio were without European Golden Shoe winner Ciro Immobile, goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha and midfielder Lucas Leiva. All three players failed to pass UEFA’s coronavirus screening despite being available for the Roman club in Serie A at the weekend.
Playing in Europe’s elite competition for the first time in 13 years, Lazio have five points from three games.
Erokhin scored with an acrobatic volley in the 32nd minute.
Lazio struggled for long stretches before Caicedo used one touch to sweep in Acerbi’s cross.
Caicedo also scored a late winner off the bench in Lazio’s wild 4-3 victory at Torino in Serie A on Sunday (Monday NZT).
Up next for Lazio is a visit by nine-time Italian league champions Juventus on Sunday (Monday NZT).
Lazio host Zenit in their next European match on November 24.
Morata double for Juve
On the night that Cristiano Ronaldo began his 18th consecutive Champions League campaign, it was Alvaro Morata who did the bulk of the scoring for Juventus.
Morata netted the first two goals in a 4-1 win at Ferencvaros, giving the Spanish forward four of Juventus’ six scores in its opening three matches in the competition.
Ronaldo, who missed Juventus’ opening two Champions League games after contracting the coronavirus, set up Morata’s second.
Substitite Paulo Dybala got Juventus’ third into an empty net after Ferencvaros goalkeeper Denes Dibusz failed to control a back-pass. Lasha Dvali then scored an own goal following another error by Dibusz.
Franck Boli pulled one back for Ferencvaros in the 90th-minute.
Juventus remain three points behind Group G leaders Barcelona, who beat Dynamo Kyiv 2-1. Kyiv and Ferencvaros trail with one point each.
Seven minutes in at Puskas Arena, Morata used one touch to redirect a cross from Juan Cuadrado, who had run onto a through ball from Leonardo Bonucci.
Celebrating his 100th game with Juventus in all competitions, Morata was just as efficient on the hour mark when he took a cross from Ronaldo and connected with a shot from the edge of the area.
United States midfielder Weston McKennie used a dummy to let Ronaldo’s cross reach Morata.
Morata also scored both goals when Juventus won their opener 2-0 at Kyiv.
Only Ronaldo’s former Real Madrid team-mate Iker Casillas has appeared in more consecutive Champions League campaigns – 20 between 1999-2000 and 2018-19.
Ronaldo was denied by an expert tackle late in the second half after being set up unselfishly by Morata, then missed wide after the break.
Messi on target for Barca
Lionel Messi scored in his 150th European competition appearance as Barcelona beat Dynamo Kyiv 2-1.
Messi converted a penalty in the fifth minute at an empty Camp Nou after he had earned a foul when he was crunched between two Dynamo defenders while dribbling into the box.
It was goal No 121 for the Argentina forward in his 150 Champions League and European Super Cup appearances.
Gerard Pique added a second goal for the Spanish hosts with a header in the 65th minute. Dynamo forward Viktor Tsygankov pulled one back with 15 minutes to go.
Ronald Koeman’s Barcelona lead Group G with nine points from three wins. Dynamo have one point.
Dynamo played with a squad depleted by the coronavirus. The Ukrainian side said nine players – including its two main goalkeepers – tested positive ahead of the team’s trip to Spain.
The visitors held up thanks to the fine goalkeeping of 18-year-old Ruslan Neshcheret. He was making just his second match for Dynamo’s first team.
AT A GLANCE
Champions League results:
Group E
Chelsea 3-0 Rennes
Sevilla 3-2 FK Krasnodar
Group F
Zenit St Petersburg 1-1 Lazio
Club Bruges 0-3 Borussia Dortmund
Group G
Barcelona 2-1 Dyamo Kyiv
Ferencvaros 1-4 Juventus
Group H
Istanbul Basaksehir 2-1 Manchester United
RB Leipzig 2-1 Paris Saint-Germain
