Basel: Manchester United missed a chance to reach the Champions League knockout stages with a match to spare for the first time since 2014 after a late goal condemned them to a 0-1 defeat here in a pulsating Group A clash played Wednesday. Midfielder Michael Lang tucked in an 89th minute winner for the Swiss side after Raoul Petretta found him with a pinpoint low cross at the far post, giving Man United’s stand-in keeper Sergio Romero no chance.
There were however no problems for Chelsea as the defending EPL champions breezed into the last 16 of the Champions League after being helped to their 4-0 stroll over 10-man Qarabag by the award of a hotly-disputed first half penalty and a sending off in Baku.
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Basel’s late triumph created a complicated scenario ahead of the last round of games but the Red Devils are still almost assured of progressing. They need only to avoid defeat by more than six goals at home to CSKA Moscow to be sure of avoiding an embarrassing relegation to the second-tier Europa League, which they won last season.
United are still top of the section with 12 points from five games, three ahead of second-placed Basel and third-placed CSKA, who kept alive their hopes of reaching the last 16 with a 2-0 home win over Benfica earlier in the day.
Daley Blind blamed himself for Basel’s late winner. However, Man United coach Jose Mourinho was adamant the Dutchman should not be made a scapegoat. “It is not fair for Blind to blame himself. He had a very positive game. We have to blame everyone on the pitch because we had so many chances. We should have been 5-0 up at the break” Mourinho said.
The Red Devils hit the woodwork twice as they controlled the first half, with Anthony Martial shaving the outside of the post with a cross while Marcos Rojo’s defelected long-range effort cannoned off the crossbar. Basel keeper Tomas Vaclik denied Romelu Lukaku with a fine save and Marouane Fellaini saw his header cleared off the line by Manuel Akanji as the visitors pinned back the home side in the opening 45 minutes.
Chelsea took control against Qarabag when Qarabag’s captain Rashad Sadygov was dismissed for pulling down Willian in the box, allowing Eden Hazard to convert coolly from the spot. With 10 men, the hosts were no match for the Blues at Baku’s Olympic Stadium. Two brilliant goals from Willian and a Cesc Fabregas penalty completed the rout.
In Brussels, former Champions League winners Bayern Munich were helped by goals from Robert Lewandowski and Corentin Tolisso to earn a scrappy 2-1 win over Anderlecht.
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