VALENCIA, Spain (AFP) - Manchester United squandered the chance to win their Champions League group on Wednesday after a lacklustre display got what it deserved in a 2-1 defeat to Valencia.
Already through to the last 16, Jose Mourinho made eight changes at the Mestalla, including a return for Paul Pogba, but United were largely outplayed by their Spanish opponents, who sit 15th in La Liga.
Carlos Soler's driven shot and a Phil Jones own-goal put Valencia two up early in the second half before United came alive in the final minutes after Marcus Rashford's header gave them brief hope.
Perhaps Mourinho and his players had assumed Juventus would win away at Young Boys but the Italians' surprise 2-1 loss meant United had first place within their grasp.
Instead, they go through as runners-up into Monday's draw for the last 16, with Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund and Porto all potential opponents.
Porto would probably be the favoured pick but on this evidence, they might feel the same about United. After all, Valencia also made changes, eight of them, with their fate resigned to dropping into the Europa League.
They had failed to score in six of their last eight Champions League games while poor form in La Liga has their coach Marcelino fighting for his future.
After drawing against Sevilla last weekend, their fans swung white handkerchiefs in the air to demonstrate their dissatisfaction.
Pogba, left out against Arsenal and Fulham, started here but contributed little, save for a glaring miss in the first half. Eric Bailly also came in but his partnership with Jones was rocky all night.
United made Valencia look like world-beaters in the opening 45 minutes. They were slow in possession and just as sluggish out of it. Frustration bubbled and burst, as a handful of tackles flew in and missed.
Valencia were excellent. Geoffrey Kondogbia and Dani Parejo both went close early on before another pinball session in the penalty area saw the ball land at the feet of Soler. He looked up, picked his spot and drove into the far corner.
Michy Batshuayi should have made it two but headed over and Mouctar Diakhaby could have had a penalty when denied a simple finish by the clambering Marouane Fellaini.
United had the occasional opening, the best of them falling to Pogba, who somehow stabbed wide after Fellaini's header offered him a tap-in from two yards. The flag of the assistant referee spared his blushes but replays showed he was onside.
Jones marched off at half-time shaking his head, having berated his midfield for failing to track back, but the interval brought no relief.
Almost as soon as they restarted, Romelu Lukaku misread a Bailly pass. Just as others had before, Bailly threw his arms up in frustration.
Soon after it was two, Soler's pass landing between Sergio Romero and Jones, with Batshuayi on the chase. Jones panicked, met the ball on the slide, and pushed it past his approaching goalkeeper and into his own net.
There were 43 minutes left but a United comeback never looked likely until Rashford, on as a substitute, headed home in the 87th minute. Jesse Lingard had done well to keep the ball alive before Ashley Young supplied the cross.
Juan Mata could even have equalised. Pogba's scooped ball over the top left him alone in front of goal but he missed the ball as he tried to volley on the turn. A point would have been more than United deserved.
"It was my honour to work for the late and much-loved Khun Vichai, who gave me the fantastic opportunity to manage his club and share some great moments with him. "My mission at Leicester City Football Club ends here but I will continue to follow the performances of the team and wish the club all the best for the future."
Sacked Puel says an 'honour' to manage Leicester -football
Man Utd legends thrash Bayern in 1999 charity rematch. 6 days ago. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer tormented Bayern Munich once again as the Manchester United manager scored in his club's 1999 treble winners' reunion on Sunday. Twenty years after Solskjaer scored the last-gasp winner that helped
Obituaries for the last 7 days on Your Life Moments.
Football: Toffees aim to start new year on winning note
Part 3 of Inside The Rhapsody - A mini documentary about the making of Bohemian Rhapsody - Taken from the 'Greatest Video Hits 1' bonus DVD of 2002. 1 of 3 mini documentaries from this disc. http
Queen Is Making A Killing In Music Sales Thanks To 'Bohemian
Premier League: Pep Guardiola dismisses Jurgen Klopp's claim that Manchester City have no weaknesses Description: Pep Guardiola's Manchester City, who are at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday, were a point off the top of the table before Liverpool went to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Friday.
Pep Guardiola dismisses Jurgen Klopp's claim that Man City
Qatar not the favourites, says coach Sanchez, Football News
Jurgen Klopp believes his Liverpool squad could not have done more to take their first ever Premier League title after falling just short to Manchester City on the last day of the season.
In the dying minutes of Iran´s 3-0 defeat to Japan on Monday, striker Sardar Azmoun slapped Japan midfielder Gaku Shibasaki in the face, sparking a melee that also involved his teammates Ehsan
Call in Iran for footballers to be punished over Japan melee
LONDON • Whoever said the magic of the FA Cup was dead should have paid a visit to Kingsmeadow, The Den and the New Meadow on Saturday.. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Magic of the FA Cup alive and well - theworldnews.net
Neymar's dad drops huge hint his son could leave PSG in the summer. The Brazilian, 27, has been heavily linked with Barcelona and Real Madrid in the last year
LaLiga: Real Madrid 'meet' with Neymar's father
Chelsea passed another tough test in Europe after claiming a valuable away draw in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final tie against Eintracht Frankfurt. Luka Jovic gave the Bundesliga
Eintracht Frankfurt vs Chelsea - Europa League semi-final
Football; Spurs star out until March with ankle injury. Tottenham striker Harry Kane will be sidelined until March after suffering ankle ligament damage in Sunday's defeat against Manchester
Spurs star Kane out until March with ankle injury - Starr Sports
starrsportsgh.com/2019/01/spurs-star-kane-out-until-march-with-ankle-injury/
Tottenham striker Harry Kane will be sidelined until March after suffering ankle ligament damage in Sunday's defeat against Manchester United. Kane sustained the injury to his left ankle in the closing moments of the 1-0 loss
Spurs star Kane out until March with ankle injury - The 1873 TV
Vincent Kompany will have a testimonial match in August 2019 to mark his 10th year at Manchester City, with all the profits going to a great cause. The proceeds will all go the Homelessness Fund set up by Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, which aims to end homelessness in Manchester… read more »
Mayor's A Bed Every Night scheme launches to help get
0 comments:
Post a Comment