Manchester United gave up a two-goal lead in a breathless 4-3 Champions League loss to FC Copenhagen last night that turned after Marcus Rashford was shown a red card following a brace by young United striker Rasmus Hojlund.
The loss was a calamitous setback in United’s hopes for last-16 qualification with Erik ten Hag’s side fourth in Group A on three points with two group games still to play.
Hojlund fired United to a brilliant start in a roller-coaster first half, scoring his first when the game was just 171 seconds old by tucking in Scott McTominay’s pass from close range.
The 20-year-old netted again against his former club in the 28th minute after a Kamil Grabara save sent the ball spinning practically to his feet.
The tide turned when Rashford was shown a red card in the 42nd minute for planting his foot on the ankle of Elias Jelert to protect the ball. The moment breathed new life into the home side and Mohamed Elyounoussi pulled one back three minutes later.
There was more misery to come as Copenhagen were awarded a penalty right before halftime after Harry Maguire’s handball, and Diogo Goncalves slotted it home past Andre Onana.
United briefly regained the lead when VAR awarded them a penalty for a handball which Bruno Fernandes calmly converted.
But they imploded in the final few minutes giving up two goals, in the 83rd when Lukas Lerager sprinted in to meet Rasmus Falk’s cross and four minutes later when 17-year-old substitute Roony Bardghji fired home.
Bayern Munich top scorer Harry Kane struck twice in seven minutes late in the game to guide his team to a 2-1 victory over visiting Galatasaray and secure a spot in the knockout stage with two games to spare.
The England captain, who had scored a hat-trick against Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga on Saturday, headed in a Joshua Kimmich freekick in the 80th minute and then tapped in his second six minutes later to make sure of a top two finish.
The visitors cut the deficit in second half stoppage time with Cedric Bakambu.
The Bavarians, who also hit the post with Kane early in the second half, stretched their unbeaten run in Champions League group matches to 38, having won the last 17 in a row, both competition records.
They are top of Group A on 12 points and are certain of a top two finish with two matches left.
Meanwhile, Arsenal returned to winning ways with a routine 2-0 defeat of Sevilla to take a big step towards qualification for the knockout rounds.
Successive defeats in the League Cup and Premier League had halted Arsenal’s momentum but goals by Leandro Trossard and Bukayo Saka cemented their place as leaders of Group B.
Trossard tapped home in the 29th minute to put Mikel Arteta’s side in front and Saka underlined Arsenal’s superiority with a superb effort midway through the second half.
Europa League champions Sevilla were desperately disappointing and managed only one shot on target, with the last kick of the game, as their hopes of progress to the last 16 receded.
Arsenal strengthened their position at the top of Group B with nine points from four games and would have qualified had Lens beaten PSV Eindhoven but the French club lost 1-0.
Lens and PSV have five points while winless Sevilla are bottom with two points.
Brahim Diaz, Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo scored as Real Madrid cruised into the last 16 with two group games remaining after a 3-0 victory over Portuguese side Braga.
Record
Real manager Carlo Ancelotti rested several regular starters, but the 14-times champions maintained their 100 per cent record to lead Group C with 12 points from four games. They could secure top spot with a point at home in their next game against Napoli. The Italian champions are second on seven points, four clear of Braga in third. Union Berlin are bottom on one point after a 1-1 draw against Napoli earlier yesterday.
Real got an early scare when Lucas Vazquez held Braga defender Cristian Borja inside the box to concede a penalty, but goalkeeper Andriy Lunin palmed away a weak effort by Alvaro Djalo from the spot.
Real then took control of possession and Diaz opened the scoring with a first-time strike from close range in the 27th minute.
The hosts were in full control and extended their lead when Vinicius stroked home from inside the box in the 58th minute, with Rodrygo netting a brilliant chip three minutes later to secure the points.
A late penalty by Lautaro Martinez helped Inter Milan book their spot in the last 16 with a 1-0 win at Salzburg, dashing the Austrian champions’ knockout stage hopes with two games remaining.
Substitute Martinez sealed the win for Inter from the spot five minutes from fulltime after Simone Inzaghi’s men were awarded a penalty for a handball.
Inter are second in Group D on 10 points, level with leaders Real Sociedad who earned a comfortable 3-1 win over Benfica in the other group fixture earlier yesterday and also secured a top-two finish with Inter’s victory.
Salzburg, who would have kept their last-16 qualifying chances alive with a draw, are third with three points.
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