By JOHN BOSCHINI
Ashley Young spared Manchester United an embarrassing result with a goal in injury time as the defending Premier League champions squandered a two-goal lead over FC Basel and were forced to settle for a 3-3 draw in UEFA Champions League play at Old Trafford.
It seemed like smooth sailing for the Red Devils as 20-year-old Danny Welbeck marked his European debut with a goal. Ryan Giggs fed the ball to the England international, who's shot deflected in off the post in the first half. Welbeck's second goal came just 90 seconds later with a fine finish from the the middle of the penalty area. Giggs again provided the assist and the contest looked over.
However, Basel showed some resiliency and equalized with a couple of quick goals of their own. Fabian Frei jumped on a rebound to pull a goal back early in the second half and Alexander Frei provided the shocking equalizer less than two minutes later with a well-placed header after he was left unmarked.
United's problems were compounded when Fabio was taken off with an injury. Sir Alex Ferguson didn't name any defenders to the substitutes bench and Antonio Valencia was forced to slot in as fullback. His inexperience showed and the Ecuadorian conceded a penalty in the 76th minute. Alexander Frei converted and Basel took the lead.
The Red Devils pushed forward and were eventually rewarded in the 91st minute when Nani's deep cross found Young at the back post. United find themselves third in Group C while FC Basel moves into the top spot through two matches.
In Tuesday's other UEFA Champions League results:
BAYERN MUNICH 2, MANCHESTER CITY 0
Manchester City became the latest victim of Europe's hottest team as Bayern Munich manhandled the English newcomers with a 2-0 win at the Allianz Arena in a result marred by Carlos Tevez' reported refusal to enter the game as a substitute.
Mario Gomez took his scoring tally to 11 goals in seven games as the German striker scored twice in the first half. Both goals came from close range and resulted from rebounds following brilliant saves from Joe Hart. The English number one kept the scoreline respectable as Manchester City offered very little in possession or attack.
The opener came in the 38th minute when Hart stoned shots from Thomas Muller and Franck Ribery but the ball fall to Gomez, who smashed it in from six yards out. Munich managed to double its advantage in stoppage time of the first half when Daniel van Buyten's headed goal was stopped by Hart but the rebound found it's way from Gomez and the brace was completed with a shot from point-blank range.
The Germans continued to dominate in the second half but were unable to add to the scoreline. Bayern Munich take their winning streak to 10 games, scoring an incredible 28 goals while conceding none in both Bundesliga and Champions League play.
The Tevez vs. Roberto Mancini saga took another nasty turn when the Argentine would not enter the game, and Mancini confirmed the reports in his post-match interviews and reportedly said that the temperamental striker will never see the field for City again.
NAPOLI 2, VILLARREAL 0
Napoli scored early to hold serve in Group A with a 2-0 win over Villarreal. Marek Hamsik's shot found the bottom corner in the 14th minute and Edinson Cavani doubled the lead three minutes later with a penalty kick. Villareal dominated possession but could only manage two shots on goal and the Spanish side finds itself bottom of the proverbial "Group of Death."
REAL MADRID 3, AJAX 0
Real Madrid made quick work of Ajax with a 3-0 victory. Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, and Karim Benzima wrapped up the result before the hour mark. Ronaldo is off to a flying start to the season, scoring eight goals in five games and Real Madrid are atop Group D with a perfect start. Ajax, on the other hand, has been shutout in both Champions League games this season and faces a difficult journey to the knockout rounds.
INTER MILAN 3, CSKA MOSCOW 2
Inter Milan kept their Champions League hopes alive under new manager Claudio Ranieri with a 3-2 win over CSKA Moscow. Goals in the first 30 minutes from Lucio and Giampaolo Pazzini seemed to give Inter a comfortable lead. However, Alan Dzagoev scored on the stroke of halftime to pull one back for the Russian club. Moscow snatched an equalizer with Vagner Love's right-footed shot, but Mauro Zarate scored a minute later to give Inter the lead for good.
TRABZONSPOR 1, LILLE 1
Trabzonspor continues to impress as a 1-1 draw with Lille takes the Turkish replacements to pole position in Group B. Lille took a first-half lead with Moussa Sow's goal. Trabzonspor took advantage of Mathieu Debuchy's handball to equalize from the penalty spot with 20 minutes remaining.
LYON 2, DINAMO ZAGREB 0
Lyon made quick work of Dinamo Zagreb with Bafetimbi Gomis and Bakari Kone scoring the goals for the French side.
BENFICA 1, OTELUL GULATI 0
Benfica came up with shutout victory, as Bruno Cesar scored the game-winning goal just before halftime.
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What did you think of today's Champions League results? Surprised with United's near-collapse? What do you make of the Tevez saga? Does City still have a road to the knockout rounds? Is Real Madrid on cruise control?
Share your thoughts below.
I think the United summary should say Young saved United from an even more embarassing result. It was still plenty embarassing. I watched the game and I have never seen their defense play so poorly. It was absolutely insane how easy it was for Basel to find space. De Gea continues to impress though, and I thought Jones did well for the most part. I hate to say it, but I think Ferdinand should make way for Vidic, and they need Smalling back pronto. I have no doubt that if Vidic, Smalling, Rooney, Chicharito, and Cleverly were all playing they’d have destroyed Basel, but of course that’s not the way it works, you have to deal with injuries. They still should have won comfortably…
Your mom.
pls I will like to know the one who man the pole for LIlle Fc during their match with Trebzonpor
It’s amazing City functions as well as it does considering two of it’s star strikers are raving lunatics. On the other side of things, very pleased for Napoli,
Tevez is a good soccer player but a typical scumbag as a person. He already made his shenaningans a couple of years ago. The guy is uneducated prima donna. No sympathy from my part. Poor Mancini and he also has Boletelli to deal with…
Mancini doesn’t need to go, Teves does. Every time it looks like Mancini has dealt with a headcase in that dressing room, another one rears its ugly head. When your team needs you in UEFA CL and you refuse to play, you should never play again. Too bad footballers have guaranteed contracts, else this type of behavior would never occur.
I think your giving city too much credit. They never looked like scoring including in the first 30 minutes. Silva and aguero looked undersized with no real support
Mancini needs to go.
Agreed that Bayern Munich ended up deserving the win, and played better for 90 minutes, but City dominated the first 30 away from home. No question. Especially in possession. I would say City deserved more, but they melted down after the first goal. You make it sound like the result was never in question for Bayern. Just not true.
Once again, nice-looking football (for first 30, anyway) with no finishing. From there, things got worse starting with the last-second concession of the second goal to end the first half and then the questionable decision to sub in DeJong for Dzeko (down 2-0) followed by the Tevez mutiny. With no Balotelli or Adam Johnson even to turn to, City had no way back in the match with Silva and Aguero not exactly on their best games. Certainly not with Milner and Kolarov as their answer.
kaka!!!
Ives did u mean that Tevez will NOT see the field again? or he will?
Video highlights from ManU vs Basel?