DEMBA BA took advantage of Manchester United’s gung-ho attacking play to score the simplest of openers as Istanbul Basaksehir shocked the visitors on Wednesday night.
The Turkish champions were gifted the lead after just 12 minutes of the game.
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Demba Ba was allowed to race free with all ten United outfield players in the opponents’ half
On the attack, United committed all ten of their outfield players to the cause.
Every single player was standing within 35 yards of the Istanbul Basaksehir goal.
But after the play broke down, Ba seized the opportunity to break out.
The former Chelsea star, 35, raced towards the halfway line with no-one standing between himself and Champions League debutant Dean Henderson.
The ball was punted over the top for Ba to chase, with only Nemanja Matic within ten yards of him.
Ba outpaced and outmuscled Matic to compose himself and roll the ball past Henderson and into the back of the net.
United legend Paul Scholes was scathing of his former side’s defending.
He said on BT Sport: “That goal is completely down to organisation. It’s like Under-10’s football.
Demba Ba celebrated after scoring a simple one-on-one in TurkeyCredit: Reuters
Demba Ba had only Nemanja Matic within ten yards of him as he streaked home to score
“What the back four were doing I have no idea, it’s embarrassing.”
Co-commentator Martin Keown labelled it as ‘comical’, while Robin van Persie also ripped into the Red Devils.
The Dutchman, 37, said: “I’ve never seen a goal conceded like that first goal – usually you leave two defenders at the back.”
United had won their opening two Group H games – 2-1 against Paris Saint-Germain and 5-0 against RB Leipzig.
But fell to a shock defeat in Turkey against the previously winless Basaksehir side.
Against arguably the minnows of the ‘Group of Death’, United would have hoped to press home their advantage with nine points from their opening three games but were stunned early on.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer opted to start Henderson in goal over David De Gea – with the Spaniard having played the opening two group games.
And Axel Tuanzebe was recalled into the heart of defence after impressing against PSG – that night as part of a back-three.
Sticking with his new, preferred diamond formation, Matic joined Juan Mata, Bruno Fernandes and Donny van de Beek in midfield.
But they were all caught napping as Ba was set clear to net the game’s opener in Istanbul Basaksehir’s quest to win their first Champions League game of the season.
The defending was just as bad for the second goal, with Edin Visca free at the back post to tap home from another counter-attack.
Anthony Martial struck back just before half-time, but it wasn’t enough as the home side held on for a famous win.
Robin van Persie tears into the Man Utd defence at half time of Istanbul Basaksehir Champions League game
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
