Man City loanee Angeliño stars as Red Devils exit Champions League after 2-3 loss to Leipzig
Manchester United were eliminated from the Champions League following Tuesday’s 3-2 defeat at Red Bull Leipzig.
The German hosts carved out a two-goal advantage within 13 minutes after Angelino — who is on loan at Leipzig from United’s local rivals Manchester City — arrowed in an early opener and then set up Amadou Haidara with a searching cross.
Justin Kluivert notched Leipzig’s third from close range midway through the second half before United almost staged an improbable comeback. Bruno Fernandes converted a penalty and Paul Pogba was credited with an 82nd-minute header that appeared to strike teammate Harry Maguire on its way into the goal.
United nearly completed their late rally, but it wasn’t through the late efforts of auxiliary striker Maguire or his colleagues. Instead, Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi had to save with his legs after defender Nordi Mukiele kicked the ball toward his own goal.
With the win, 2019-20 semifinalists Leipzig confirmed their progression into the Champions League knockout rounds.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side, meanwhile, gets the consolation of Europa League football in the new year. Whether the under-fire Norwegian is in charge when the continental campaign restarts in February remains to be seen.
“We started too late. Great spirit and comeback again. It’s different to the Premier League — you can’t give a team a three-goal lead and expect to come back,” Solskjaer told BT Sport post-match. “We were unlucky towards the end and you almost thought it was in at the last minute there.
“Of course, you can’t say we were good enough; we weren’t.”
Leipzig must wait until Wednesday to find out whether they finish first or second in the section, after the contest between last season’s runners-up PSG and Turkish champions Basaksehir was interrupted with the score 0-0 in the 14th minute.
PSG, who advanced following United’s loss, will claim top spot with victory in Paris.
Moukoko makes history
Borussia Dortmund striker Youssoufa Moukoko, aged 16 years and 18 days, became the youngest player in Champions League history as he came off the bench in a 2-1 victory away to Zenit Saint Petersburg.
Cameroon-born Moukoko, who made his European debut as a 58th-minute substitute in Russia, broke the previous record of Celestine Babayaro, who was 16 years and 87 days when he played for Anderlecht in November 1994.
Dortmund, who had already qualified for the last 16, equalised within minutes of Moukoko’s introduction, with Lukasz Piszczek cancelling out Sebastian Driussi’s first-half goal before Axel Witsel scored the winner.
Jorginho spared Chelsea’s blushes as his penalty rescued a 1-1 draw against Krasnodar in Group E following Remy Cabella’s opener in London.
Frank Lampard’s side were already assured of finishing top, while goals from Jules Kounde and two Youssef En-Nesyri eased Sevilla to a 3-1 victory at Rennes.
Lazio also secured a spot in the knockout rounds for the first time in two decades following a tense 2-2 draw at home to Club Brugge in the pouring rain in Rome.
Ciro Immobile scored his fifth Champions League goal this season for the Roman side.
Denys Popov’s header earned Dynamo Kiev a 1-0 victory over their former star Serhiy Rebrov and Ferencvaros in the group’s other game, offering them a place in the Europa League.