HALF an hour into this ludicrous game of football, Rasmus Hojlund was haring through on goal, looking to complete a hat-trick and propel Manchester United into a 3-0 lead.Yet there is one thing we know for certain about Erik ten Hag’s team – they never, ever do things the easy way.
Man Utd twice threw away a lead to leave their Champions League hopes in tattersCredit: Alamy
United stars were given a fiery welcome to DenmarkCredit: Getty
As Hojlund’s shot was saved, VAR was pulling back play to the opposite end of the field where Marcus Rashford was found guilty of a red-card challenge on Elias Jelert.
By half-time time, FC Copenhagen had levelled at 2-2 and despite Ten Hag’s ten men rallying to lead through a Bruno Fernandes penalty, they tossed away victory in a chaotic finale, ultimately losing to a bloke called Roony.
You honestly couldn’t make this stuff up.
Those of us in the Press box for Tottenham’s VAR-infested 4-1 defeat by Chelsea on Monday night, might at least have expected that to be the most chaotic game we covered this week.
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Some hope – here we had two Copenhagen comebacks, two dodgy penalties, one sending-off, one pro-Palestinian pitch invader and one lengthy delay for a medical emergency.
And at the end of all the bedlam, United were bottom of this Champions League group, staring elimination in the face and knowing they must defeat either Galatasaray in Istanbul or Harry Kane’s rampant Bayern Munich to stand any chance of making the knock-out stage.
The Danish fans had promised ‘Welcome to the Theatre of Nightmares’ in a giant banner unfurled before kick-off.
And in a nation where Hans Christian Andersen used to write tall tales, few could have been as fanciful as this one.
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It’s on topsy-turvy nights like these when you wonder why UEFA have seen fit to scrap the current group-stage and replace it with an indecipherable ‘Swiss model’ next season.
It started with Hojlund, the Dane playing in his homeland against his former club, giving United an ideal start.
But Rashford’s controversial red card turned the match on its head before Roony Bardghji hammered in an 87th-minute winner.
Copenhagen did their best to concoct the intimidating atmosphere they had promised.
Rasmus Hojlund opened the scoring for UnitedCredit: AFP
The striker celebrates with his team-matesCredit: Getty
There was a blast of the Darth Vader theme tune during the warm-up, and that ‘Nightmares’ banner as well as another with a cartoon of a sleeping red devil dreaming about United’s 1-0 defeat here in 2006.
“What the f***ing hell is that?” responded the travelling Reds.
In truth, Danish people are pretty much the nicest in the world and it felt like the locals were trying a little too hard.
Ten Hag restored Rashford to his starting line-up after an ‘unacceptable’ birthday party and a ‘minor knock’.
Hojlund scored a secondCredit: Rex
Hojlund kisses the United badge after grabbing his secondCredit: AP
And before the sulphur clouds from the pre-match pyros had dispersed, United were in front thanks to a sweeping move the length and breadth of the field.
Bruno Fernandes played a Hollywood cross-field ball to Rashford, who fed Aaron Wan-Bissaka and the full-back played a cut angled pass for Scott McTominay to centre low for Hojlund to tuck home.
Soon, the match was twice delayed – first by a pitch invader with a Palestinian flag, who was bundled away by stewards.
And then a fan close to the halfway line was treated by paramedics before being carried away on a stretcher, apparently conscious and ‘well in the circumstances’.
Marcus Rashford was shown redCredit: Getty
Mohamed Elyounoussi pulled one backCredit: PA
The game was back onCredit: PA
During that stoppage, an injured Jonny Evans was replaced by Raphael Varane.
The second goal came courtesy of a shocking error from Copenhagen centre-half Denis Vavro allowing Fernandes to release Alejandro Garnacho, who cut in and drilled a shot which Kamil Grabara spilled, leaving Hojlund to gobble up the chance.
Within a minute, United’s Danish centre-forward might have completed his hat-trick, but his powerful left-footed shot was brilliantly pushed over by Grabara.
This was looking like a rare, authentic Manchester United performance but the idea that nothing can ever go smoothly for Ten Hag’s side was confirmed minutes later when Rashford saw red.
Diogo Goncalves levelled the gameCredit: Getty
Copenhagen were back on level termsCredit: AFP
Rashford was turning, trying to shield the ball from Elias Jelert when he appeared to tread on his opponent’s ankle and also make contact with his elbow.
Lithuanian referee Donastas Rumsas was sent over to his monitor by his Polish VAR and an incredulous Rashford was walking.
Copenhagen were instantly lifted and swiftly halved the deficit.
Peter Ankersen centred, Diogo Goncalves volleyed a pass to former Southampton man Mohamed Elyanoussi, who fired past Andre Onana.
Bruno Fernandes put United back in frontCredit: Rex
Fernandes led the celebrationsCredit: Getty
After 13 minutes of first-half injury-time were announced, United made a meal of defending a routine cross, the ball cannoning off Varane’s arm and then handled by Maguire as he tried to hold off Goncalves.
Rumsas pointed to the spot and Goncalves sent Onana the wrong way.
Ten Hag sent on Sofyan Amrabat for Christian Eriksen and United’s luck changed midway through the second half.
A free-kick was pumped into the box and Maguire headed into the out-stretched arm of Lukas Lerager.
The VAR pulled play back, Rumsas awarded the spot-kick and Fernandes drilled into the roof of the net.
But just as we readied ourselves to praise United’s resilience, Lerager made amends by beating a dozing Diogo Dalot to Rasmus Falk’s far-post cross and poking past Onana.
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Then it got even worse for the visitors as Bardghji hammered a shot into the floor and inside the post.
There was something rotten in the state of Denmark and it was United’s defending.
Lukas Lerager put the game level againCredit: Getty
Copenhagen turned the tie around againCredit: AFP
Roony Bardghji scored a stunning winnerCredit: Getty
The late sub wheels off in jubilationCredit: Getty
Harry Maguire was left head in handsCredit: Getty More
