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10 Man Manchester United loses to Copenhagen in a wild seven-goal thriller.
Rashford’s early red card cost 10 Man Manchester United a 4-3 Champions League loss against Copenhagen on Wednesday night.
Rasmus Hojlund’s double put Erik ten Hag’s team ahead 2-0 inside the first 28 minutes. Rashford was sent off in the 42nd minute. As a result, Copenhagen scored twice more before the first half ended to tie the score at 2-2.
After Bruno Fernandes’ penalty put the Red Devils up again in the 69th minute, Lukas Lerager tied the score in the 83rd, and three minutes remaining in regular time, 17-year-old Roony Bardghji gave the home team a stunning victory.
UEFA Champions League Stats
In the other Group A encounter, Bayern Munich defeated Galatasaray 2-0 to advance to the round of 16. Copenhagen is now second in the Champions League Group Table. Manchester United is in the bottom, one point below Copenhagen ahead of a trip to Galatasaray at the end of November.
When Scott McTominay kicked the ball against Harry Maguire’s arm from close range, Copenhagen yelled for a penalty inside the first 20 minutes, but the referee was uninterested, and VAR concurred.
Man United took the lead in the third minute, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s clever pass releasing McTominay into a crossing position, and the Scotland international picked out Hojlund, who scored against his former club to make it four goals this season.
“Your Theatre of Nightmares,” read a sign from the Copenhagen fans before kickoff, yet the Red Devils got off to a flying start, with the hosts struggling to impose themselves in the same way they did in the reverse meeting last month at Old Trafford.
Alejandro Garnacho’s clever work almost led to another chance for the visitors in the 12th minute, but his cross just missed a teammate, before Red Devils goalkeeper Andre Onana had to save a feeble shot from Rasmus Falk down the other end.
Jonny Evans was once again selected ahead of Raphael Varane in the middle of the defense, but he limped off the field in the 14th minute with a muscular problem on his first Champions League appearance since 2013 and was replaced by Varane, who is currently linked with a move away from Old Trafford.
Manchester Utd vs FC Copenhagen | UEFA Champions League
In the 40th minute, Man United’s number 11 had a chance to complete his hat-trick after racing clear of the Copenhagen defense after collecting a pass from Fernandes, but he fired his effort just wide of the far post.
Soon after, there was a VAR check for a red card, with Rashford catching Elias Jelert’s ankle after attempting to protect the ball, and the referee came across to send off the England international after a look at the monitor, with the decision being at best controversial.
Fernandes deflected Diogo Goncalves’ free kick onto his own crossbar from the resulting free kick, and Copenhagen came close to halving the deficit late in the first period.
The home team scored on their next attack, with Mohamed Elyounoussi turning a cross from Goncalves into the back of the net from close range, and it was then revealed that the first period would be extended by 13 minutes.
In the following spell, Kevin Diks shot wide of the Manchester United goal, but Copenhagen were awarded a penalty in the eighth minute of added time after Maguire handled inside the box.
Goncalves stepped up and found the bottom corner of the net to tie the game at 2-2, completely turning the game on its head after such a comfortable start for Man United.
Sofyan Amrabat came on for Christian Eriksen at halftime, and Manchester United dominated the first half of the second period, but Denis Vavro’s shot was saved by Onana.
After being released into the penalty box by Garnacho, Diogo Dalot hit the post for Manchester United, before Onana saved from Viktor Claesson moments later.
10 Man Manchester United lost to Copenhagen
Onana was called into action again on the hour to keep out a Goncalves strike, with Man United holding firm at the start of the second period after a chaotic first 45 minutes.
Bardghji came on in the 63rd minute for the hosts, having already scored nine goals in all competitions this season, and he was immediately involved, striking over the crossbar from distance.
In the 66th minute, Denis Varvo handled inside the box, prompting the referee to be sent across to the monitor, where he pointed to the spot after a short check.
Fernandes stepped up for the 20-time English champions, and his sensational penalty found the top corner of the net to put the visitors back ahead in Denmark.
In the spell that followed, Copenhagen were on the front foot, with Wan-Bissaka doing brilliantly to cut out a low cross from Bardghji, and the visitors were sinking deeper into a defensive shape.
In the 79th minute, McTominay fired one over the crossbar before Maguire had a goal disallowed for a foul on the goalkeeper from a corner.
Copenhagen equalized in the 83rd minute when Lerager converted a Falk cross at the far post, despite Dalot failing to follow his marker.
In the 87th minute, Bardghji added a fourth goal for the home team, scoring with a brilliant finish that sparked jubilant scenes inside the stadium.
Maguire smashed the crossbar late on, but the referee blew for a foul shortly after, allowing Copenhagen to secure all three points at the end of a stunning game of football, and Man United have now sunk to the bottom of the section as a result of their third defeat in four matches this season.
