Manchester United’s 3-3 draw with Galatasaray on Wednesday put them in danger of being eliminated from the Champions League after twice wasting two-goal leads.
The Red Devils need to defeat Bayern Munich in their final game at Old Trafford in order to have any hope of qualifying, since they are currently bottom of Group A with just one point.
If Galatasaray defeats FC Copenhagen in two weeks or if the Danish champions earn at least four points from their final two games, then even defeating the German champions would not suffice.
United will look back on another season of lost chances and expensive mistakes from goalie Andre Onana as they have only won one of their five Champions League games.
With a spectacular overhead kick, Alejandro Garnacho produced one of the greatest Premier League goals ever, setting up United for victory against Everton on Sunday.
After just 11 minutes, the Argentine scored his first goal with less fanfare but nevertheless a powerful strike into the net thanks to a ball from Bruno Fernandes.
Before the game, a massive banner that read “Welcome to Hell” was erected, but a United second goal 20 minutes in quiet the boisterous Galatasaray supporters.
Fernando Muslera was rendered useless by a strong, dipping strike from outside the box by Fernandes.
There have been 26 goals scored in United’s five Champions League games this season.
On the other hand, Erik ten Hag has a history of losing track of leads.
Galatasaray overcame two goals deficits at Old Trafford to win their first Champions League away game in ten years, and they also made room for the Turkish powerhouses to come back.
On the edge of his own box, Fernandes gave up a needless free kick.
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However, the majority of the fault must go with Onana because he allowed his former Ajax colleague Hakim Ziyech to easily catch him off guard by firing into the bottom corner.
When the teams previously played, Mauro Icardi scored the winning goal, and the Argentine was only kept from scoring an equaliser before halftime by the narrowest of margins for offside.
When Scott McTominay gave United their two-goal lead again at the beginning of the second half, it appeared as though everything had returned to normal.
Leading a superb counterattack, Fernandes found Aaron Wan-Bissaka on the right side, and his cross found McTominay, who scored his first Champions League goal.
Nevertheless, another egregious mistake by United’s custodian held them back once again.
Onana’s performance for Inter Milan during their run to the Champions League final the previous season won him a transfer to the Premier League.
However, Ziyech’s second goal for the Red Devils in Europe was perhaps his poorest of the season. The Cameroonian has made numerous mistakes for the team.
Onana was the target of the Moroccan’s free kick, but he only managed to smash the ball into his own net.
Even worse for the United, it spurred another Galatasaray comeback.
With 19 minutes remaining, Kerem Akturkoglu’s flawless control and lethal, precise finish zipped past Onana at his near post.
Despite missing numerous opportunities to take the lead, United might have easily defeated the hosts in the counterattack.
Facundo Pellestri, McTominay, and Garnacho all had good initial shots that missed the mark.
Fernandes then made another amazing long-range strike against the post.
But on that particular night, when Wilfried Zaha blasted too near to Onana, United also had the option of losing and going out mathematically.
AFP
