Man United slumps to wild 4-3 loss at Copenhagen in Champions League after Rashford’s red card
FC Copenhagen's Roony Bardghji celebrates after scoring during the Champions League Group A soccer match between FC Copenhagen and Manchester United in Copenhagen, Denmark, Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023.
Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes, left, celebrates after scoring his side's third goal by penalty during the Champions League Group A soccer match between FC Copenhagen and Manchester United in Copenhagen, Denmark, Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023.
Manchester United's Marcus Rashford, second right, receives a red cart by referee Donatas Rumsas during the Champions League Group A soccer match between FC Copenhagen and Manchester United in Copenhagen, Denmark, Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023.
FC Copenhagen's Diogo Gon莽alves, left, celebrates with teammates Rasmus Falk, center, and Mohamed Elyounoussi, right, after scoring his side's second goal by penalty during the Champions League Group A soccer match between FC Copenhagen and Manchester United in Copenhagen, Denmark, Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023.
Manchester United's Rasmus Hojlund celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League Group A soccer match between FC Copenhagen and Manchester United in Copenhagen, Denmark, Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023.
A pitch invader runs with a Palestinian flag during the Champions League Group A soccer match between FC Copenhagen and Manchester United in Copenhagen, Denmark, Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023.
FC Copenhagen's Mohamed Elyounoussi, right, celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the Champions League Group A soccer match between FC Copenhagen and Manchester United in Copenhagen, Denmark, Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023.
FC Copenhagen's Denis Vavro, right, and Manchester United's Rasmus Hojlund, left, challenge for the ball during the Champions League Group A soccer match between FC Copenhagen and Manchester United in Copenhagen, Denmark, Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023.
Manchester United's Harry Maguire reacts during the Champions League Group A soccer match between FC Copenhagen and Manchester United in Copenhagen, Denmark, Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023.
FC Copenhagen's player Roony Bardghji celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal during the Champions League Group A soccer match between FC Copenhagen and Manchester United in Copenhagen, Denmark, Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023.
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) 鈥� Chants of 鈥淩oony, Roony鈥� swept around Parken Stadium after Manchester United蘑菇视频 latest loss in the Champions League, and the irony cannot have been lost on the beleaguered English club.
A player whose name has similarities to one of United蘑菇视频 greatest players 鈥� Wayne Rooney 鈥� plunged the team into serious trouble in Europe蘑菇视频 top competition on Wednesday.
Roony Bardghji 鈥� a Kuwait-born, 17-year-old winger 鈥� capped a wild game that had just about everything by scoring an 87th-minute winner for FC Copenhagen in a 4-3 victory over 10-man United.
An end-to-end match began with Rasmus Hojlund, a former Copenhagen player, scoring twice inside 28 minutes to give United a 2-0 lead, then saw Marcus Rashford shown a 42nd-minute red card for a stamp, before it ended with the visitors collapsing for their third loss in four games in Group A.
Lukas Lerager equalized for Copenhagen in the 83rd and Bardghji became the youngest Champions League scorer against United by driving a bouncing ball inside Andre Onana蘑菇视频 near post, securing the Danish club one of the most famous victories in its history.
鈥淚t was an amazing night,鈥� said Mohamed Elyounoussi, one of Copenhagen蘑菇视频 scorers. 鈥淚 think everybody who was here could see the spirit that we have.鈥�
United slumped to last place on three points, one fewer than Copenhagen and Galatasaray with two games left. United heads to Galatasaray next knowing a defeat will mean elimination from the Champions League with one game to spare.
鈥淲e have a mountain to climb, so we must climb,鈥� United captain Bruno Fernandes said. 鈥淲e have two games, and we have to win those two games.鈥�
The match was played to the backdrop of an extraordinary atmosphere, with Copenhagen fans unveiling a pre-match tifo with the words 鈥淵our Theatre of Nightmares鈥� 鈥� a reference to the 鈥淭heatre of Dreams鈥� nickname of United蘑菇视频 Old Trafford stadium 鈥� along with a picture of a Red Devil asleep in a bed.
It蘑菇视频 unlikely to get any cozier in Turkey. On a previous United visit there to play Galatasaray, the players were greeted with 鈥淲elcome to Hell鈥� banners at the airport.
United actually started well against Copenhagen, taking the lead in the third minute when Hojlund, playing against the team where he started his professional career, converted a cross from Scott McTominay.
After the game was delayed twice, the 20-year-old Denmark striker doubled the lead by tapping into an empty net after Alejandro Garnacho蘑菇视频 shot was saved, but it only got tougher from there for United.
Rashford蘑菇视频 sending-off proved to be a turning point and came as he attempted to shield the ball under pressure from Copenhagen left back Elias Jelert. He got it wrong and planted his studs on the left ankle of his opponent, with a video review showing the foul that was missed by the on-field referee.
Rashford threw his arms up in disgust when he was shown the red card and his departure initially rocked United, which conceded in the 44th through Elyounoussi and then in the ninth of 13 minutes of first-half stoppage time when Diogo Gon莽alves converted a penalty after a handball by Harry Maguire.
Back came United and after a penalty was awarded for a handball against Denis Vavro off Maguire蘑菇视频 header back into the area, Bruno Fernandes hammered the kick into the roof of the net for 3-2, which would have been enough for United to go second in its group.
The visitors couldn鈥檛 hold on, though, and the pressure is firmly back on United manager Erik ten Hag after a ninth loss in 17 games in all competitions.
鈥淲e started very well, we controlled the game until the red card,鈥� Hojlund said, 鈥渁nd that changed the game, of course.鈥�
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer