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Manchester United were expelled from the Champions League after losing 3-2 to RB Leipzig in their last match of the group stage.
United entered the game knowing they would qualify for the knockout stages unless they lost. However, they soon gave themselves a mountain to climb and despite a belated struggle, they never recovered.
Leipzig took the lead in just two minutes, courtesy of a player still owned by Manchester City. Angelino held on to a Marcel Sabitzer cross before firing a clean shot into the bottom corner.
Wow … RB Leipzig took two minutes ahead against Man Utd 😮
Angelino, a left back on loan from Man City, scores his seventh goal of the season! pic.twitter.com/LFFyfk4x3E
– Football at BT Sport (@btsportfootball) December 8, 2020
The German team was causing trouble wide, and United conceded a second goal down that route in the 13th minute. This time, it came from Angelino’s cross in the opposite direction, which Amadou Haidara fired from the right side.
There was disappointment for United when Emil Forsberg fired a deflected shot from the center of the penalty area that could, and probably should, have extended their lead. But soon after, Leipzig thought so.
Willi Orban hit the ball over the line after a header from Ibrahima Konate caught David De Gea and it bounced off the post. However, the goal was ruled out because Orban was offside. Still, it was another wake-up call for United.
In fact, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side began to come to life at the other end. Harry Maguire had a powerful header from a corner, but the play was stopped by a foul.
Man Utd fight in the second half is not enough
Solskjaer knew he had to change something, so he sent Donny van de Beek in place of Alex Telles when United switched from three to four for the second half.
His best chance to cut the deficit came in the 68th minute, when a Fernandes free kick hit the crossbar.
However, if that was supposed to give United any hope, it took a crushing blow less than a minute later when Leipzig scored a third. Substitute Justin Kluivert lunged into the box to get the ball past De Gea.
United had a glimmer of hope when they won a penalty for a foul on Mason Greenwood. Fernandes sent Peter Gulacsi the wrong way to give United a lifeline with just over 10 minutes to go.
It seemed too little too late, but United withdrew another goal when Paul Pogba, who had entered after being out of the starting lineup – He headed through Konate.
Wouldn’t you know? Paul Pogba scores for Man Utd!
Two goals in a very short time and suddenly there is a lifeline … pic.twitter.com/dNeHwTyxAs
– Football at BT Sport (@btsportfootball) December 8, 2020
It seemed that the ball had gone from Maguire’s arm between Pogba and Konate, but the goal remained. United still had a chance.
The fourth official signaled an additional four minutes as time passed for United to try to get the most goal they needed to qualify.
They were very close when Nordi Mukiele nearly diverted a Pogba cross into his own net. However, Leipzig could breathe a sigh of relief.
United couldn’t find the last chance they needed, which means Leipzig held on to their victory. It means that the Bundesliga team advance at United’s expense, with Solskjaer’s team entering the Europa League.
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