For once, Mark Bosnich was close to speechless.
The outspoken former Manchester United goalkeeper struggled to explain the Andre Onana howlers that burned the Red Devils in a costly 3-3 Champions League draw with Galatasaray in Istanbul.
At fault for Galatasaray’s first goal from Hakim Ziyech’s free kick, Onana fumbled another set piece attempt by the winger into his own net to bring the hosts back into an end to end classic.
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“I don’t know how he did it,” Bosnich said on Stan Sport.
“I really don’t know what he was thinking. I really don’t because ideally, if you’re quick enough, you get your whole body behind it, right? It’s very difficult to one hand, scoop it away.
“Go down with the two hands, softer hands and if the ball drops it’ll drop around you so you can maybe get back to it.”
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Another Socceroos great, Craig Foster, said Anthony Martial also deserved blame for Galatasaray’s second goal.
“That’s shocking mate. You’re in front of the ball,” Foster said.
“Your job is to head the ball… that is an in-swinging ball, hit with quite a lot of speed, right? You hardly need to jump and yet you cannot make the decision that I’m going to let it go and just hope that you’re going to get it.”
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United twice wasted two goal leads on Thursday (AEDT) to leave their hopes of reaching the round of 16 hanging in the balance.
United was 2-0 ahead after 18 minutes after strikes by Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes and then 3-1 up following a goal by Scott McTominay in the 55th.
After Onana’s fumble, Muhammed Kerem Akturkoglu then controlled a fine through ball from Ziyech and powered a rising shot past the hapless goalkeeper in the 71st minute to earn Galatasaray a point.
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The Turkish team is a point ahead of United, which remained in last place in Group A.
United must now beat already qualified Bayern Munich in the final round of games in two weeks to stand a chance of advancing in second place.
Erik ten Hag’s team has dropped eight points from winning positions in the group and conceded 14 goals – already a club record.
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“What we’ve been doing in the Champions League is not enough,” Fernandes said.”
“Its not the first game we have been doing this. We have to secure the result. We have to be smart enough and manage the game better.”
A huge display featuring the phrase ‘Welcome to Hell’ dominated one side of the Ali Sami Yen Stadium before kickoff, a nod to 30 years ago when Galatasaray fans greeted United’s players with the same message at the airport in Istanbul ahead of a Champions League match.
Another banner read ‘Your worst nightmare is back again’ and Onana might have that feeling as he added a new chapter to his mistake filled first season at United.
For Ziyech’s first goal, Onana crept to his left – behind United’s flimsy defensive wall – just before the shot was taken.
Ziyech’s curling effort went through the wall and crossed the line where Onana had been initially standing.
His mistake for Ziyech’s second goal was even worse, with the shot striking the right elbow of Onana as he went down to gather the ball and rebounding over the line.
Onana covered his head in his hands.
United still had a slew of chances in the final minutes as both teams went on the attack for a winner but a mixture of disappointing finishing and a poor final ball saw the opportunities go to waste.
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Fernandes also hit the post with a shot from the edge of the area.
United has won just one of its five group games and knows a victory against Bayern at Old Trafford still might not be enough, with much depending on what happens in the other game between Copenhagen and Galatasaray.
“I was pleased with the performance because we created so many chances but at the same time we have to win this game,” Ten Hag said.