Evening Standard
·3 October 2023
Evening Standard
·3 October 2023
A
bad few weeks for Manchester United got worse on Wednesday night at they were beaten by Galatasaray in the Champions League at Old Trafford.
Mauro Icardi struck in the 81st minute to give the Turkish giants their first ever win on English soil.
The striker had already missed a chance from the penalty spot to put the visitors ahead at Old Trafford. But he was more clinical when racing on to Davinson Sanchez’s header before lifting a shot over United goalkeeper Andre Onana.
It was United’s sixth defeat in 10 games this season and its second in its opening two matches in Group A of the Champions League.
To make matters worse for Ten Hag, his team had twice led through goals from Rasmus Hojlund in each half.
But on both occasions Galatasaray produced quick replies to even the score, while Casemiro was sent off when bringing down Dries Mertens for a penalty in the 76th.
Hojlund fired United ahead in the 17th with a header from close range, but the lead didn’t last long as Wilfried Zaha equalized in the 23rd.
Hojlund scored again in the 67th when he seized on a loose ball from Sergio Oliveira near the halfway line, drove forward and finished past Galatasaray keeper Fernando Muslera.
The visitors were level again four minutes later as Kerem Akturkoglu converted from inside the box.
Soon after Mertens charged into the area when collecting Onana’s errant pass, but he was brought down by Casemiro before he could shoot and the Brazilian was shown a second yellow card.
Icardoishot wide from the penalty spot, but made no mistake when through on goal to score the winner minutes later.