United forced to wait as Lang dashes hopes

Red Devils denied early place in knockout stages

CENTRE OF ATTENTION: Basel’s Mohamed Elyounoussi tries to retain possession under pressure from Daley Blind, left, and Paul Pogba

Manchester United were denied a place in the Champions League knockout phase as Michael Lang’s late strike secured Basel a memorable, and deserved, victory.

Jose Mourinho’s men started Group A with four successive victories and could have qualified without even kicking a ball had CSKA Moscow failed to beat Benfica in the early kick-off.

It still appears a case of when rather if United reach the last-16, but Basel’s late 1-0 win means progress is not yet completely certain ahead of the Russians’ visit to Old Trafford next month.

BASEL MANUTD 1 0

Mourinho’s men still boast a three-point cushion but things could have been so different had his side showed cutting edge throughout the first half.

Belgium midfielder Marouane Fellaini saw a header cleared off the line and forward Anthony Martial’s

cross hit the post, with Argentina defender Marcos Rojo seeing an outrageous long-range effort deflected on to the crossbar on his return from a cruciate ligament injury after 216 days out.

The visitors dominated the opening period but tailed off markedly after the break as Basel repeated their memorable win on United’s last visit to St Jakob-Park in 2011.

But last night United’s defence buckled in the 89th minute as Raoul Petretta’s cross was turned into the United net by Lang. United could have been out of sight had they

shown their first half.

Paul Pogba, captaining United for just the second time, was impressive on the ropy St Jakob-Park

“United could have been out of sight had they shown teeth”

teeth in the pitch and his outstanding no-look through ball almost led to a 12th-minute opener, only for Romelu Lukaku to be denied by Tomas Vaclik.

United recycled the play and Manuel Akanji had to

clear off the line as Fellaini met Daley Blind’s cross with a powerful header. The Belgium midfielder nodded wide after as United looked to translate dominance into a goal without creating any clear-cut chances until half-time approached. Martial switched on for the closing minutes of an otherwise anonymous firsthalf display, sending in a s ublime cross that hit the post after Fellaini failed connect.

5

– colourful former Australia fast bowler, born 1961.

■ Kevin Gallacher (football) – former Blackburn and Scotland striker, born 1966.

■ Rob Denmark (athletics) – European Cup 3,000m gold medal winner in 1993, born 1968.

■ Alf-Inge Haaland (football) – former Man City, and Norway defender, born 1972.

■ Asafa Powell (athletics) – Jamaican former 100m world-record holder, born 1982.