Man United suffer worst humiliation in their European history.
'When
United had men like Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand or Roy Keane in their
ranks they would have had him under control; but this team is fearful
and uncertain. From the moment he came on, the sight of Onuachu
terrified them.'
'Chaos is a
very under-rated quality in football. A 6ft 7 in, 21-year-old Nigerian
called Paul Onuachu came on for Midtjylland and brought it – and now
Manchester United are in chaos, too'
Photo: BPI /James Marsh
Midtjylland forward Paul Onuachu (left) slides on his knees as he celebrates his side's second goal against Manchester United
Manchester United already out of the Champions League and stuggling in
the Premier League, slumped to their 11th defeat of the season.They were
upset 2- at Midtjylland in the in Europa League
round of 32. The Danish side will take an aggregate lead into the round of 32's second leg at Old Trafford on February 25
This
will go down as one of their greatest humiliations in Europe. Rotor
Volgograd, Olympiacos, Galatasaray, there have been a few. Not too many
like this, though. Midtjylland, not an European power house, are coming off the back of a long mid-winter break, last game
was on December 10, currently placed third in Denmark's
Superliga. They qualified for the Europa League's round of 32 having
finished second to Napoli,
Photo: BPI /James Marsh
United forward Memphis Depay (left) celebrates scoring the opening goal
against Midtjylland during Thursday night's clash in Denmark
Memphis Depay put United in front with a close-range stab from Jesse
Lingard's cross. Pione Sisto drew the hosts level at the MCH Arena with a
deflected strike just before half-time. Midtjylland's Nigerian foprward Paul Onuachu, an anarchic talent, scored the winning goal on 77 minutes to confirm the upset
Credit: Reuters
Onuachu (right) dribbles with the ball past Red Devils defender Paddy McNair during Thursday night's Europa League match
Photo: Getty Images
Red Devils goalkeeper Sergio Romero dives to make a stunning save during
the first-half of the round of 32 tie first-leg in Denmark
A
1-0 winat Old Trafford in the return leg andUnited through. Yet who would presume a clean sheet after
this? Everything that Midtjylland are good at, finds United weak.
They
are strong from set pieces, they are athletic and physically
competitive in the box; and in Onuachu they have one of those random
factor players, a wild card, all limbs and limbo shapes.
When
United had men like Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand or Roy Keane in their
ranks they would have had him under control; but this team is fearful
and uncertain. From the moment he came on, the sight of Onuachu
terrified them.
It
was the 60th minute when he replaced Martin Pusic and in that instant
the game changed. Until then, United had enjoyed the best of the second
half, hitting the bar through Jesse Lingard, coming close with a header
from Juan Mata.
Photo: Michael Regan/Getty Images
United coach,
Louis van Gaal looks forlorn.
'A
cross from Kristoffer Olsson, instantly showcased Onuachu's danger. He was comfortably first
to the ball and Romero was at full stretch to tip his header wide.'
How
to describe Onuacho? He is one of those anarchic talents, like Paolo
Wanchope – you know the type. He doesn't know what he's going to do, his
team-mates don't know what he is going to do, so the opposition are
most certainly in the dark, too.
If
United pigeon-holed him as merely a target man, he flummoxed them after
68 minutes, haring away from chasing defenders, long legs eating up the
turf to set up a chance for Pione Sisto. And then, in the 77th minute,
the culmination of all that lovely muddle and tumult. Somehow, Onuachu
scored.
Photo:Getty Image
United striker Martial (left) knocks the ball clear of Midtjylland
defender Kian Hansen during the Europa League round of the 32 match
Coutesy: Mail
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