Setbacks for Manchester teams
LUCIANO Narsingh scored a second-half winner as hosts PSV Eindhoven came from a goal down to beat Manchester United 2-1 on a night of setbacks for English teams in the Champions League last night.
United left back Luke Shaw suffered a suspected broken leg and was taken off on a stretcher with an oxygen mask strapped to his face in the early stages of the Group B match.
The game had looked to be heading United’s way and their close-season signing from PSV, Memphis Depay, reminded spectators at the Philips Stadion of his prowess with a stunning 41st-minute opener.
PSV, however, caught the visitors napping at a corner in first-half stoppage time as Hector Moreno equalised before a swift break-away set up the 57th-minute winner.
“We missed the cutting edge in the final third and didn’t make use of opportunities. They punished us with their two main chances,” United defender Chris Smalling said.
United set out their stall quickly and took the game to PSV with the 21-year-old Depay, who was warmly welcomed back by the home fans, and teenager Anthony Martial looking dangerous in a twopronged attack.
Depay’s pass set up Martial for a tap-in from close range after just seven minutes, but the Frenchman failed to put enough force into the effort.
Shaw’s injury came after 15 minutes when a burst of acceleration put him through on goal before he was halted by Moreno’s poor challenge, which went unpunished.
As the match went into a lengthy period of stoppage time at the end of the first half, Moreno rose to head home a corner, with Daley Blind helping the ball into his own net.
Shaw later tweeted: “Thank you everyone for your messages, words can’t describe how gutted I am, my road to recovery starts now, I will come back stronger.”
Depay’s goal was a breathtaking display of footwork, set up by fellow Dutchman Blind, who was jeered throughout the match because of his previous connection to Ajax Amsterdam.
United dominated exchanges in the second half, but were caught out by a sucker punch early on as they pressed high up the pitch.
A searching pass from Andres Guardado in midfield found Maxime Lestienne out on the left and his cross eluded the visiting defence to allow Narsingh to head home.
Juan Mata should have equalised just after the hour, but let a brilliant lofted pass from Bastian Schweinsteiger slip under his foot with a goal begging.
Meanwhile, Juventus came from behind to hand Manchester City their first defeat this season as Mario Mandzukic and Alvaro Morata gave the Italian champions an opening 2-1 win in Group D.
The Premier League leaders, City were fortunate to go ahead after 57 minutes when Vincent Kompany, climbing all over Giorgio Chiellini, saw the defender head an own goal as the home skipper wheeled away to celebrate instead of being punished for a foul.
But Juve pulled level in the 70th minute when Mandzukic touched the ball in off the post after Paul Pogba sent in a high cross from the left.
It was the first goal City had conceded this season, but worse followed when Morata scored with a 20m, left-footed curler in the 81st minute to snatch all three points.
Cristiano Ronaldo moved three goals clear of Lionel Messi as the Champions League’s top scorer when he netted a hat-trick for Real Madrid in a 4-0 home victory over a 10-man Shakhtar Donetsk.
A howler from Shakhtar goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov let in Karim Benzema to score the opener in the 30th minute before the visitors were reduced to 10 men five minutes into the second half, after Taras Stepanenko had hacked down Sergio Ramos and was given a second yellow card.
Real doubled their lead after Ronaldo’s shot hit Shakhtar captain Darijo Srna on the back in the 54th minute and the referee inexplicably awarded a penalty. The Portugal captain netted another spot kick nine minutes later after Marcio Azevedo handled in the area.
Ronaldo, who hit five past Espanyol in La Liga on Saturday, completed his hat-trick in the 81st minute when he followed up a Marcelo shot and headed into the net to take his Champions League tally to 80.
Midfielder Gareth Bale sustained what looked like a muscle injury in his left leg and limped off in the 28th minute at the Bernabeu.
Angel di Maria brought his delicate touch to Paris St Germain’s game as the French champions started their campaign with a routine 2-0 home win against Malmo.
Di Maria scored after four minutes of their Group A match and Edinson Cavani made it 2-0 in the 61st in a oneway encounter at the Parc des Princes Stadium in Paris.
Playing against the club where he started his career, PSG forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic looked a bit rusty, having played only one league game in an injury-plagued start to his season. He was replaced by Javier Pastore 15 minutes from time.
Malmo thought their moment had come in the 26th minute, but Markus Rosenberg’s goal was disallowed after the forward had fouled Thiago Silva. – Reuters