Istanbul Basaksehir 2, Manchester United 1 (Champions League Group H, Matchday 3)
Manchester United suffered their first European defeat of the season at the hands of Champions League newcomers Istanbul Basaksehir.
Embed from Getty ImagesShock goals by Demba Ba and Edin Visca put the Turks into the lead, United pulled pme back just before the break through Anthony Martial but couldn’t find the extra gear to break down Basaksehir in the second half.
It was an another embarrassing night in Turkey for United who were punished for a diabolical defensive performance by a side that scored their first ever Champions League goals to earn their first ever Champions League win at the Fati Terim Stadium in Istanbul.
And what an ignominious way to end a ten match winning run away from home – their first defeat in 19 matches since losing in January at Liverpool in the Premier League.
United only managed two shots on target in the game and lacked the consistency required to build a title challenge, something that will worry Reds boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
He said: “The Perfomance wasn’t good enough against a team that worked and ran.
“They were well set up and organised and we were not good enough.”
He blamed the organisation of the United side on the night for the goals that were gift wrapped for Basaksehir.
“We forgot about the man up top, and the second one we were not organised to counter press.
“[It was] two soft goals to give away and we didn’t have enough in the second half.
“We threw everything at it but we couldn’t break them down.
Even using all five substitutes couldn’t produce a goal for United, with Solskjaer explaining why he made his changes:
“We had to take Axel off becuase he was on a yellow card and we needed to go for it – to gamble.
“[The defeat] sets us back a lot. You don’t just turn up and get three points in the Champions League.
“It’s not easy to be positive now, after the way we lost, but they are good players and we have chance on Saturday morning to get going again [against Everton].
Solskjaer made six changes to the side that lost at home to Arsenal on Sunday.
Dean Henderson made his Champions League debut for United, while Alex Tuanzebe started his second game in Europe after his heroics in Paris last month while Donny van de Beek got a rare start while Juan Mata was also named from the start in his first European start of the season.
Nemanja Matic and Anthony Martial were the other two players to come in while David de Gea, Victor Lindelof, Fred, Scott McTominay, Paul Pogba, and Mason Greenwood made way.
Their hosts named a trio of familiar faces in their team – ex-United full back Rafael, ex-Liverpool defender Martin Skrtl, and former Chelsea striker Demba Ba lined for for Basaksehir – who were expected to be United’s easiest opponents in their Champions League group.
Shocking defending by Manchester United as they lose to Istanbul Basaksehir
But there was an early shock as Ba scored Basaksehir’s first ever Champions League goal with one of the simplest he will ever score, running onto a long ball pumped up from Edin Visca from his own half.
Ba was left unmarked by Nemanja Matic and Alex Tuanzebe and both trailed in his wake as the striker couldn’t believe his luck – racing into United’s half and finishing a one-on-one chance with Henderson inside the right hand post.
Tuanzebe was booked for pulling back Ba as he tried to get into a shooting position as he panicked against the ex-Chelsea forward.
Danijel Aleksic went close as he connected with Boli Bolingoli’s cross as United’s problems continued.
Deniz Turuc drew a foul from Matic on the edge of the United area after 34 minutes. But from a promising position 18 yards out on the left but the free kick was wasted.
Irfan Kahveci almost caught United on the hop again when he broke free but the Reds caught up and cut off his options before he could find a pass.
But United were sleepwalking to disaster and another mistake, this time by Mata, allowed Turuc to rob him and put in a cross from the left that Ba dummied and Visca finished from 10 yards out past a flapping Henderson.
This time the Reds got their act together and responded, with Luke Shaw skipping between two defenders before finding Anthony Martial unmarked with a cross which he headed home from 7 yards out for only his second goal of the season.
There was a change at half time with Scott McTominay replacing Tuanzebe – who had already been booked in the first half – while Matic dropped into the back four.
United sporadically threatened to grab the equaliser but didn’t trouble the home side enough.
Rafael was penalised for bringing down Bruno Fernandes after 55 minutes but his free kick lacked power and was at a good height for Mert Gunok to save.
Edinson Cavani and Paul Pogba were sent on after 61 minutes for van de Beek and Mata as United looked for incisiveness over guile.
Fernandes’ shot went wide as the Reds went for it, and with spaces opening at the back fo both sides the 35-year-old Ba tried to lob Henderson but made a mess of the chance.
Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Mason Greenwood replaced Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Rashford after 76 minutes after Solskjaer made his final changes.
But the Reds still struggled for inspiration and had to rely on Fosu-Mensah’s pace to rescue them from an embarrassing Fredrik Gulbrandsen break.
Harry Maguire went upfront in the dying minutes and he had a chance 2 minutes into injury time somehow cleared off the line by Alexandru Epureanu under his own crossbar while Martial struck the resulting corner wide.
GOALS – Istanbul Basaksehir 2, Manchester United 1
Istanbul Basaksehir 1, Manchester United 0: 13. Demba Ba was allowed an unimpeded run into the United half when the Reds were undone by a long ball for him to run on to from his own half fo his fourth Champions League goal. He made no mistake to finish past Henderson with Nemanja Matic trailing in his wake.
Istanbul Basaksehir 2, Manchester United 0: 40. Edin Visca slammed in the second as the home side had 2 players raiding in when Demba Ba dummied the ball. Juan Mata lost the ball and the Reds were all at sea as Deniz Turuc robbed him and raced clear on the left flank to sweep a deep cross in.
Istanbul Basaksehir 2, Manchester United 1: 43. Anthony Martial responded quickly for United when he headed in Luke Shaw’s cross from 7 yards out 2 minutes and 18 seconds after United went 2-0 down.
MATCH STATS – Istanbul Basaksehir 2, Manchester United 1
Istanbul Basaksehir: Gunok, Rafael, Skrtl, Epureanu, Bolingoli-Mbombo, Aleksic, Kahveci (Ponck 90), Visca, Ozcan (Topal 87), Turuc, Ba (Gulgrandsen 80)
Istanbul Basaksehir Subs Not Used: Babacan, Kivanc, Giuliano, Kaplan, Karakus
Booked: Skrtl 89 (foul on Anthony Martial)
Goals: Ba 13; Visca 40
Man Utd: Henderson, Wan-Bissaka (Fosu-Mensah 76), Tuanzebe (McTominay 46), Maguire, Shaw, Matic, Mata (Cavani 61), Fernandes, van de Beek (Pogba 61), Rashford (Greenwood 76), Martial
Man Utd Subs Not Used: De Gea, Lindelof, Fred, James, Ighalo, Williams, Mengi
Booked: Tuanzebe 21 (Pulled down Demba Ba)
Goal: Martial 43
Referee: Davide Massa