Cristiano Ronaldo’s early goal could not save Manchester United from another Champions League loss in Switzerland, 2-1 against a sharp and robust Young Boys team.
United only have themselves to blame after Aaron Wan-Bissaka was sent off, then Jesse Lingard’s backpass gifted Young Boys of Berne an injury-time winner.
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Jordan Siebatcheu struck in the last minute of stoppage time when the ball broke into space behind the United defence.
Ronaldo’s record-extending 135th Champions League goal in the 13th minute was the first of his — and United’s — only two shots of the game. He was substituted in the 72nd minute.
https://twitter.com/ManUtd/status/1437817121178857484?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfwhttps://twitter.com/Cristiano/status/1434581767353163779?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
It was created by Bruno Fernandes’ clever pass with the outside of his right foot into the path of Ronaldo for a low shot that squirmed under goalkeeper David von Ballmoos.
Reduced to 10 men in the 35th minute after a red-card foul by Aaron Wan-Bissaka, the Premier League co-leader struggled to create any more scoring chances against the unheralded Swiss champion.
United was already under regular pressure before Wan-Bissaka’s rash challenge on Christopher Martins deep in the Young Boys half.
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Young Boys deservedly levelled in the 66th when midfielder Nicolas Moumi Ngamaleu met a low cross into a crowded goalmouth with a shot that beat goalkeeper David de Gea at his near post.
It proved to be another tough Swiss trip for United after losing in the group stage at Basel twice in the past decade.
“That’s football, people make mistakes,” United captain Harry Maguire said. “We’re not blaming Jesse. I’m sure everyone on that pitch today has made a mistake. I’m sure Jesse will pick himself up.
“It’s the first game in the group. We’ve got many games to bounce back and we must do. We’ll try and pick up three points in our next game and build momentum from there.”
Ronaldo claimed a share of more Champions League history just by playing his first United game in the competition since the 2009 final. His 177th career appearance in the Champions League tied the record held by Iker Casillas, his longtime teammate at Real Madrid.
The Champions League qualifying rounds seemed to have prepared Young Boys well for facing a star-studded United team playing just its fifth competitive game of the season.
The Swiss team was sharp and physical in its 13th game of a season that started in mid-July with the first of six Champions League qualifiers.
Also in Group F on Tuesday, Villarreal was hosting Atalanta in a later kickoff.
United hosts Villarreal on Sept. 29 — a rematch of last season’s Europa League final the Spanish club won. Atalanta hosts Young Boys on the same date.
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