One step forward, two steps back. This, sadly, has been the story of Manchester United’s season and it continued catastrophically here at Old Trafford.
Twice they led through the excellent Rasmus Hojlund, twice they were pegged back by former United man Wilfried Zaha and Dries Mertens.
Just when Erik ten Hag’s side thought they had caught a break after Mauro Icardi missed a penalty following Casemiro’s sending-off, the Italian punished more shambolic defending from United to inflict a sixth defeat in 10 games on them this season.
Not only have United made their worst start to a Premier League season, they have now kicked off the Champions League with back-to-back defeats in Group A. These are dark days indeed.
Ten Hag responded to Saturday’s defeat to Crystal Palace here by recalling Hannibal Mejbri for a Champions League debut which only lasted until half-time.
Mauro Icardi scored the winner for Galatasaray at Old Trafford on Tuesday night
Erik ten Hag has watched his team lose five of their last seven games
United started brightly, just as they did in the defeat to Bayern Munich in the group opener a fortnight ago.
Hojlund looked particularly lively and the game was just over a minute old when he muscled past Sacha Boey to fire in a cross and Bruno Fernandes couldn’t get enough on his finish.
Hannibal’s first touch let him down when Casemiro dinked a ball over the top, but it was clear that United were trying to get the ball forward early and it paid off in the 17th minute.
Again it was Casemiro who swung a pass down the right channel for Marcus Rashford to chase, closely pursued by Abdulkerim Bardakci.
Rashford has been criticised for his decision-making and lack of understanding with Hojlund, but this time he got it just right. The ball guided to the edge of the six-yard box was just out of Davinson Sanchez’s reach but perfect for Hojlund to head home his second Champions League goal of the season.
However, this is a Galatasaray side full of players with Premier League and European experience, and they were not about to be swept away in the Manchester rain.
Casemiro was sent off after hauling down Dries Mertens in the box in the second half
But Icardi missed the penalty to hand United a momentarily reprieve
As VAR concluded that Sanchez had played Rashford onside, Zaha changed into fresh footwear that had been waiting on the touchline for quite some time.
With new boots on his feet and revenge on his mind, the man who endured such an unhappy spell at United a decade ago hit back.
Diogo Dalot had been stuck to Zaha all night up to that point, but the United right-back was in trouble from the moment Sanchez launched the ball forward in the 23rd minute.
The two men tangled as Zaha forced his marker back into the penalty box and was simply had too strong and too savvy. He manoeuvred enough space to volley the ball into the ground and it bounced up and over Andre Onana.
There was more trouble for Dalot before half-time when he was booked for a clumsy foul on Zaha which left him, and United, with a real problem down the right.
Rasmus Hojlund scored twice for United and looked brilliant throughout the night
The Dane looked at his best upfront and had a third goal ruled out for offside
Ten Hag’s side could easily have been ahead at the interval but Hojlund couldn’t quite make the most of Mount’s exquisite throughball, and Mount had two close-range efforts deflected wide.
Christian Eriksen replaced Mejbri for the second half and his fantastic first-time throughball released Rashford again in the 53rd minute. What would he do this time, shoot or pass? He went for the latter but it was horribly under-hit to Fernandes and Boey got back to clear. Ten Hag’s face was a picture.
Hojlund produced another fine finish only to be ruled offside, but the Dane wasn’t to be denied.
When substitute Sergio Oliveira played a stray pass inside United’s half in the 67th minute, Boey slipped and suddenly Hojlund was away.
Wilfried Zaha stunned Old Trafford on his return to Manchester with an equaliser
Again Bardakci gave chase, again it was futile. Hojlund charged half the length of the pitch and drew Fernando Muslera before dinking the ball over the keeper.
United’s joy was shortlived once more, though. There seemed little threat from a throw-in in the 71st minute but Sofyan Amrabat was left trailing by Baris Alper Yilmaz and he squared for the unmarked Dries Mertens to score from close range.
Then more trouble in the 76th minute. Onana under-hit a pass to Casemiro and Mertens intercepted. Casemiro was never going to tackle him legally and his lunging challenge conceded a penalty and a second yellow card.
The Brazilian was off but so was Icardi, dragging his spot-kick wide of the post much to Onana’s relief.
But there was a final twist and again Amrabat was involved. He pumped a ball forward in the 81st minute and was playing Icardi onside when Sanchez’s header found its way through to the No.9. He raced clear and this time there was no escape.
