United slip in Copenhagen
Wayne Rooney trudges off
Also In The News
|
Didier Drogba's injury-time equaliser snatched a point for Chelsea as they twice came from behind to secure a memorable 2-2 draw away to Barcelona at the Nou Camp. |  |
Wednesday, 01, Nov 2006 11:13
Manchester United lost 1-0 to Copenhagen in the Champions League after a series of changes in the starting line-up failed to pay off for Sir Alex Ferguson.
Marcus Allback, the former Aston Villa striker, scored the winner 20 minutes from the final whistle as United let slip the opportunity to qualify for the second round with games to spare.
The Swede scored following a corner that United failed to clear. The ball was crossed back in and Allback stabbed the ball home from close range.
Allback's goal was Copenhagen's first ever in the league phase of the Champions League in their brief 14-year history.
Before this, United had missed opportunities to take the lead themselves although Wayne Rooney's two efforts straight at the goalkeeper were all they had to show from the opening 45 minutes.
John O'Shea missed a chance in the 55th minute following good build up play from Rooney but the Irishman could only put his header over the bar.
Rooney then missed another golden opportunity minutes later as he shot wide from eight yards out after Gabriel Heinze's neat cross left him with the goal at his mercy.
Cristiano Ronaldo thought he had grabbed an equaliser for the visitors in injury time but despite his neat finish the linesman ruled that he was offside.
The Dane's celebrated an historic win at the end of the game while United were left to wonder what might have been.
This loss is United's first in the group but leaves them still needing points from their two remaining fixtures to make sure of qualification to the knockout stages.