The ManicaPost
IT was a goal that has been described as “never ever seen” before. . .for all the wrong reasons.
The 35-year-old former Premier League striker Demba Ba could not believe his luck, being given the freedom of the city to run clear and score Istanbul Basaksehir’s first ever Champions League goal.
Edin Visca doubled the lead for the Turkish champions courtesy of further poor defending and although Anthony Martial pulled a goal back, Manchester United could not salvage a result and Basaksehir picked up their first win in the competition.
But the opening goal was all that everyone was talking about.
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who is now under severe pressure, said: “The first one is that we play a short corner and forgot about the man up top. That is unforgivable.”
How the first goal unfolded was utterly astounding. United had a corner which they played short and took their time getting into the box. The ball eventually dropped loose and allowed Visca to look up and punt a long pass upfield.
With United’s defence deserting their duties, Ba had a one on one with goalkeeper Dean Henderson from the halfway line, before coolly rolling in.
Ex-Manchester United striker Dion Dublin told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Football Daily Podcast: “That is absolutely embarrassing from Manchester United. It is lack of organisation, lack of leadership.”
Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes said on BT Sport: “It is completely down to organisation. It’s like under-10s football. Embarrassing. What the defence were doing I have no idea.
“The goal is comical, laughable. That can only be a player’s fault — that’s not down to the staff or the coaches.” —bbcsport
