Copenhagen comeback floors 10-man Manchester United after Rashford red

After seven goals, two pivotal VAR decisions, two penalties and a red card, 10-manManchester Unitedended on the wrong end of a shattering 4-3 defeat on a night of harum-scarum entertainment.

It leaves Erik ten Hag’s band of misfiring men bottom of Group A and having, yet again, to reset and go again this season. With two matches left of the phase they have three points, one behind Galatasaray and Copenhagen, who deserved victory here even if it turned on a dubious Marcus Rashford sending off.

United were in control and 2-0 ahead when the forward was dismissed, precipitating a collapse that had Denmark’s champions level by the break. Rashford’s was the first VAR adjudication via the touchline TV. The second came after Harry Maguire’s header was handled by Lukas Lerager and Donatas Rumsas, the referee, awarded a second spot-kick.

All this was after Ten Hag’s side scored on 171 seconds to shush Jacob Neestrup, the Copenhagen coach who promised Parken would be a wall of noise. It was – via a ramped-up atmosphere that featured the Imperial March from Star Wars, an extended banner which declared “Welcome To Your Theatre Of Nightmares”, and billboard-sized images that showed a sleeping red devil and other images referencing Copenhagen’s 2006 1-0 win here, also in a group meeting.

Copenhagen’s home record in the stage was a proud two losses from 16 outings so Neestrop’s bullish stance that their backyard would be a “cauldron” was understandable.

Yet inside three minutes United had their travelling support jumping and the Danes upset due to their finest move this season. As Copenhagen pressed, Diogo Dalot surged along the left and pinged the ball to Fernandes. His crossfield spiral was killed with aplomb by Rashford who caressed it down the right. There, Aaron Wan-Bissaka crossed to Scott McTominay whose relay was stabbed in by Rasmus Højlund.

So, the aptest of ripostes to Neestrup. Less ideal, though, was the pitch invader who entered holding a Palestine flag and took an age to be accosted by security personnel. Moments later Jonny Evans had to withdraw with an injury and, at the same time, a stricken person caused a medical emergency and was carried away under a white cover for privacy – the PA announcer stating, later, that they were “well considering the circumstances”.