Manchester United On Brink Of Champions League Exit After Copenhagen Collapse

Manchester United are on the brink of an early exit from the Champions League after blowing a 2-0 lead to lose 4-3 on Wednesday to FC Copenhagen as Marcus Rashford was sent-off in the Danish capital. Rasmus Hojlund looked to have come back to haunt his former club by scoring twice inside half an hour. But Rashford's sending-off swung the destiny of the match and possibly sealed United's fate with a third defeat in four games in Group A.

Mohamed Elyounoussi and Diogo Goncalves levelled for Copenhagen before half-time.

Bruno Fernandes' penalty briefly put United back in front, but two goals in the final seven minutes from Lukas Lerager and 17-year-old Roony Bardghji handed Copenhagen their first Champions League win since 2016.

United sink to the bottom of the group, one point behind Galatasaray and Copenhagen, with two games left to play.

The Red Devils travel to Galatasaray in three weeks' time before hosting runaway group winners Bayern Munich.

Defeat will again ramp up the pressure on United boss Erik ten Hag after nine defeats in 17 games this season.

But the Dutchman will reflect on what might have been but for Rashford's dismissal after an excellent opening half an hour.

"We played very good until the red card. The red card changed everything. Then it becomes a different game," said Ten Hag.

"It is harsh decision. He was going for the ball."

Copenhagen boss Jacob Neestrup claimed United would be met with an atmosphere "100 times" more intense than his side faced at Old Trafford two weeks ago.

But the locals were quickly quieted by one of their own inside three minutes.

Hojlund is still to score his first Premier League goal since a £64 million ($78 million) move from Atalanta but is now the joint top scorer in the