Manchester United crashed out of the Champions League on Tuesday as they were beaten 3-2 by Group B winners Wolfsburg
Manchester United crashed out of
the Champions League on Tuesday as they were beaten 3-2 by Group B
winners Wolfsburg at the Volkswagen Arena on an evening of twists and
turns.
United threw away an early lead and
ultimately slipped from second to third in Germany as PSV moved into the
top two behind Dieter Hecking's group winners - themselves battling
back from Sergei Ignashevich's penalty to claim maximum points against
CSKA Moscow.
Having endured another frustrating
goalless draw against West Ham at the weekend, Anthony Martial gave
United an ideal start when he slotted home the opener 10 minutes in.
However,
things quickly turned as Naldo's volley levelled matters three minutes
later before Vieirinha's first Champions League goal put Wolfsburg
ahead at the break.
Missing captain Wayne Rooney,
Louis van Gaal's men created chances but, as so often this season,
failed to convert although Ignashevich's penalty briefly looked to have
sent United through regardless.
Luuk de Jong
levelled two minutes later for PSV before a Josuha Guilavogui own-goal
looked to have given United a reprieve. The drama continued as Naldo
restored Wolfsburg's lead before Davy Propper gave PSV the victory
that condemned United to third place.
Van Gaal -
having returned United to the Champions League after a season's absence -
awaits Europa League football in 2016 as Wolfsburg celebrated their
first group stage progression as winners.
Andre
Schurrle was a surprise inclusion in Hecking's XI and he should have
tested David De Gea two minutes in only to skew an effort over the
crossbar when one-on-one.
With Rooney absent, Van Gaal handed Guillermo Varela a first United start and brought Memphis Depay into his starting line-up.
Marouane
Fellaini was moved deeper into midfield to accommodate Depay and the
Belgian found himself in the way of an early Juan Mata effort set for
the target.
The Spaniard proved crucial in United's opener, however, playing in Martial who slotted the ball past Diego Benaglio.
Martial's
first goal since October's draw with CSKA Moscow was soon cancelled out
by Naldo's well-taken volley, the centre-back angling Ricardo
Rodriguez's free-kick past De Gea.
Rodriguez was
forced off injured soon after, replaced by Marcel Schafer, with Benaglio
saving at close range from Fellaini before Wolfsburg took the lead with
a delightful move.
Draxler cut in from the right and played a neat one-two with Max Kruse before setting up a tap-in for Vieirinha.
United's
Matteo Darmian was also forced off injured - Cameron Borthwick-Jackson
his replacement - with United's frustration boiling over when Jesse
Lingard saw an effort chalked off for offside – the assistant referee
deeming Mata was interfering with play when loitering in front of
Benaglio.
United piled on the pressure but almost
fell further behind to an audacious Schurrle lob amid questionable
decision-making from De Gea with Kruse wasting an opportunity to put the
game to bed when he sidefooted wide from a corner.
Drama
in Eindhoven briefly threatened to alter the complexion of the group
while Guilavogui's own-goal did the same. However, Naldo's second and
Propper's winner in Eindhoven quickly dashed those hopes as
Wolfsburg deservedly claimed the points and top spot and left Van Gaal
with plenty to ponder.
Tags
SOCCER