Manchester United lost a dramatic 4-3 match against FC Copenhagen in their Champions League fixture on Wednesday. Despite taking an early two-goal lead, they were unable to hold off the Copenhagen side who rallied after young United striker Rasmus Hojlund scored twice. The game changed when Marcus Rashford was given a controversial red card for protecting the ball by placing his foot on Elias Jelert’s ankle. This decision breathed new life into the home team and Mohamed Elyounoussi scored three minutes later. United briefly regained the lead with a penalty converted by Bruno Fernandes but ultimately lost after conceding two goals in the final few minutes.
The loss is a severe setback for United’s hopes of reaching last-16 qualification, with Erik ten Hag’s side now sitting in fourth place in Group A on only three points. With two group games remaining, including a challenging away fixture against Galatasaray, United will need to put in strong performances if they hope to qualify.
Speaking after the match, Ten Hag praised his team’s performance but lamented the harshness of Rashford’s red card, which he believed changed the course of the game. Despite the defeat, there were positives for United with Hojlund’s brace representing a brilliant start to the match. However, they were ultimately unable to maintain their momentum, suffering a devastating loss that marked their first Champions League defeat after leading by two or more goals.
It was also a disappointing night for United fans, with Copenhagen supporters unveiling a banner reading “Your Theatre of Nightmares” at Parken Stadium – a play on Old Trafford’s nickname as the Theatre of Dreams.
