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(Paris Saint-Germain 1-2 Manchester United) With just three minutes to go, Marcus Rashford sent Manchester United to heaven against PSG, again.
Almost a year and a half ago, Manchester United and Ole Gunnar Solskjær carried out what is probably their greatest achievement as a manager, when they knocked PSG out of the Champions League through thick and thin. Then Marcus Rashford became the great hero and secured victory in overtime. On Tuesday night, the “PSG killer” repeated the feat.
As the clock approached 87 minutes played, and after missing several big chances, Rashford finally hit the net.
Paul Pogba, who was devastated from the start, came in and took action. He kept playing Rashford out of the box, who struck out. The ball went very hard across the ground and glided perfectly through the raindrops on the grass to the corner.
This gave Manchester United a brilliant start to the group stage of the Champions League. But it wasn’t without drama.
Criminal drama
The game opened with a penalty shootout. After halfway through the first half, Anthony Martial spun into the box and was fouled by Abdou Diallo. The newly appointed captain, in the absence of Harry Maguire, was handed responsibility to Bruno Fernandes, despite missing Newcastle just days earlier.
The Portuguese stepped forward, took a few quick, short steps, and missed again. The penalty was weak, at the height of the goalkeeper, and allowed PSG goalkeeper Keylor Navas to launch quickly to the ground and stop the attempt.
The PSG defenders jumped on the goalkeeper in cheers, but seconds later came the counter message. Navas had left the finish line prematurely, so Manchester United and Fernandes had the opportunity again.
The Portuguese ice cream almost got a copy of the first try. He picked up running speed, took a few quick, short steps, and sent the ball in exactly the same direction. But this time Navas was in the opposite rescue, and Manchester United took the lead.
PENALTY DRAMA: Bruno Fernandes had two chances to get the penalty in goal. On the second try he left. Photo: YOAN VALAT / EPA
But then Anthony Martial scored that guy’s own goal. On Neymar’s first pole, a corner kick entered and the Frenchman went ahead. Relatively depressurized, he should have pushed the ball away with his head, but ended up hitting the ball on his own cross.
– Clumsy own goals, said Brede Hangeland in the TV 2 studio.
At the rear came Rashford’s marker, and saved the afternoon. Thus, Manchester United has had a brilliant opening to the group stage of the Champions League. In the second group match, Alexander Sørloth’s RB Leipzig beat Fredrik Gulbrandsen’s Istanbul Basaksehir 2-0. Neither of the Norwegians played the match.
See more Champions League stats on VG Live.
