UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP C: MANCHESTER UTD 3 FC BASEL 3:MANCHESTER UNITED certainly know how to make Thorsten Fink suffer. In 1999 he entered the Champions League final to tighten the midfield of a Bayern Munich team leading with 10 minutes to go. We know how that finished. Here, he was seconds from leading Basel to a remarkable victory from two goals down and inflicting a first European defeat on Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford since November 2009. He should have known how it would end.
As Basel prepared to savour three points that would have opened up Group C, having responded to Danny Welbeck’s first-half brace and a dominant United opening, Nani swung over an exquisite cross from the right. The unmarked Ashley Young headed home from close range in the 89th minute to spare United a damaging defeat. Welbeck’s performance and the latest example of United’s indefatigable spirit were the only highlights in a worrying display.
Ferguson is perhaps owed an apology for the interpretation of his pre-match comments about Dimitar Berbatov, that his record signing still had a part to play at Old Trafford and had the confidence to produce when required, regardless of the available evidence. But the manager rarely makes allowances for yesterday’s men when planning for the future and delivering in the present and it fell to Welbeck to lead the attack.
In keeping with the 20-year-old’s form, he excelled once more, displaying instant sharpness despite his recent lay-off with a hamstring strain, prospering from the guidance of Ryan Giggs and converting the first two Champions League goals of his career.
United had crafted three fine openings before taking an early lead. The question was when, not if, United’s superiority would tell and Welbeck duly delivered following a run out of defence by Phil Jones. Valencia inevitably was involved, taking over and releasing Fabio da Silva behind a static back-line distracted by the rampaging Jones. Giggs teed up Welbeck with an awkward touch and the United striker obliged with another, scuffing the ball in off the far post with Sommer stranded.
Within a minute Welbeck had doubled United’s lead. Giggs collected Michael Carrick’s crossfield pass and arrowed a low cross through the penalty area that Aleksandar Dragovic allowed to run across him. United’s forward, lurking behind the defender, converted the gift to leave his opponents covering their heads with their shirts in embarrassment.
Misery was not confined to the Basel defence as their forwards missed chances. It must have concerned Ferguson to watch his defence prised apart so often and so easily, with Rio Ferdinand producing a sluggish display, and carelessness spread throughout the ranks as Basel were transformed after the interval.
Marco Streller ignored a tug on his shirt from Fabio to create a glorious chance for Alexander Frei who, unmarked and facing goal, side-footed yards wide of David de Gea’s goal.
Jacques Zoua sliced into the side-netting from four yards out, Alexander Frei sent a free header over and De Gea’s foot came to United’s rescue when Patrice Evra followed the play inside and allowed Streller a sight of goal. The night of living dangerously then cost United dearly as Streller beat Ferdinand to a Basel corner and, though De Gea saved his glancing header, Fabian Frei swept in the rebound via a post.
Basel’s equaliser followed swiftly as they exposed United’s sudden frailties at the back. With Jones and Evra lured out of position, Fabian Frei exploited space on the visitors’ right and delivered a cross onto the head of Alexander Frei. Seconds earlier Ferdinand had escaped with a foul on the Basel forward on the edge of his area. Revenge was served instantly as Frei found the top corner.
And Basel were not finished there. With 15 minutes remaining Jones played Valencia into trouble with a dangerous clearance to the edge of his penalty area. Streller dispossessed the converted full-back who tripped him inside the area and gave the referee no hesitation in pointing to the spot, and Alexander Frei the chance to send De Gea the wrong way.
Guardian Service
MANCHESTER UTD:De Gea, Fabio Da Silva (Nani 69), Jones, Ferdinand, Evra, Anderson (Berbatov 82), Carrick, Giggs (Park 61), Valencia, Welbeck, Young. Subs not used: Lindegaard, Owen, Fletcher, Diouf.
FC BASEL:Sommer, Steinhofer, Abraham, Dragovic, Park, Fabian Frei (Chipperfield 76), Cabral, Zoua, Granit Xhaka, Alexander Frei (Taulant Xhaka 89), Streller (Pak 80). Subs not used: Colomba, Ajeti, Schurpf, Kovac. Booked: Alexander Frei, Granit Xhaka.
Referee:Paolo Tagliavento (Italy).
