Manchester United captain Harry Maguire said poor discipline took his side in their 2-1 Champions League defeat to Young Boys on Tuesday but insisted there was plenty of time left to turn things around. United had taken an early lead through Cristiano Ronaldo and appeared on course to get this season’s Champions League campaign off to a winning start, but Young Boys turned things around in dramatic style in the second half.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s early goal could not save Manchester United from another Champions League loss in Switzerland, 2-1 on Tuesday against a sharp and robust Young Boys team.
Jordan Siebatcheu, the United States forward on as a substitute, struck in the fifth and last minute of stoppage time when the ball broke into space behind the United defense.
Ronaldo’s record-extending 135th Champions League goal in the 13th minute was the first of his — and United’s — only two shots of the game. He was substituted in the 72nd.
It was created by Bruno Fernandes’ clever pass with the outside of his right foot into the path of Ronaldo for a low shot that squirmed under goalkeeper David von Ballmoos.
Reduced to 10 men in the 35th minute after a red-card foul by Aaron Wan-Bissaka, the Premier League co-leader struggled to create any more scoring chances against the unheralded Swiss champion.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s 35th-minute sending off proved costly, with no side going on to win the Champions League previously after losing their opening match in the competition’s history.”Of course, discipline is a huge part of tournament football,” Maguire said.
United was already under regular pressure before Wan-Bissaka’s rash challenge on Christopher Martins deep in the Young Boys half.
Young Boys deservedly leveled in the 66th when midfielder Nicolas Moumi Ngamaleu met a low cross into a crowded goalmouth with a shot that beat goalkeeper David de Gea at his near post.
“If this was a knockout game and we got knocked out of the competition because we went down to 10 men, everyone would be kicking ourselves.”We’re fortunate it is the first game of the group and have loads of time to bounce back from it,” the United captain clamied.
The winning goal in the 95th minute came about after a defensive mistake from substitute Jesse Lingard, who woefully under-hit a back pass.
Maguire, however, refused to blame the winger for the defeat.”With Jesse, no footballer likes making mistakes but it’s obviously part and parcel of the game,” Maguire added.”We’re humans, every footballer makes mistakes, we’ll learn from it, he’ll learn from it. He’ll pick himself up and be ready to go on Sunday (against West Ham).
“Young Boys coach David Wagner was delighted with his side’s famous victory.”We showed what we can do, we deserved it,” Wagner said.”It is an incredible night for this club. You can see what it means to the fans after they have been kept away for so long.”
It proved to be another tough Swiss trip for United after losing in the group stage at Basel twice in the past decade.
The Swiss team was sharp and physical in its 13th game of a season that started in mid-July with the first of six Champions League qualifiers.
Also in Group F on Tuesday, Villarreal was hosting Atalanta in a later kickoff.
United hosts Villarreal on Sept. 29 — a rematch of last season’s Europa League final the Spanish club won. Atalanta hosts Young Boys on the same date.
Watch the highlights of Manchester United vs Young Boys. HERE.
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