Luke Shaw suffered a horrific suspected broken leg as
Manchester United's return to the Champions League ended in a disappointing 2-1
defeat to PSV Eindhoven.
Luciano Narsingh and Hector Moreno
found the net as the Dutch champions recorded a narrow triumph over United on
their first Champions League match in 17 months.
But Moreno maybe should have not
been on the pitch to head PSV level after Memphis Depay's opener. With 15
minutes gone, the Mexican slid in with a late two-footed challenge on Shaw in
the box.
The England defender was carried off
on a stretcher while receiving oxygen eight minutes later. Disturbing replays
showed Shaw's right foot bent at a 45-degree angle, which meant he had surely
broken it.
Incredibly, referee Nicola Rizzoli
did not award a penalty and Moreno was allowed to equalise Depay's stunning
solo opener with a header.
Then, just before the hour, Narsingh
took advantage of some slack marking from Shaw's replacement Marcos Rojo to
finish off a counter and give the hosts an historic win that gives them an
early advantage in Group B.
PSV celebrate after Luciano Narsingh
scored what proved to be the winner.
Even though Anthony Martial
impressed on his full debut, manager Louis van Gaal will be disappointed that
United's return to Europe's biggest club competition ended in a loss.
As a former Ajax coach and player,
Van Gaal would have expected a hostile reception at the Philips Stadion.
Before the first whistle, it was
clear the United manager and his team would not be made welcome by the
supporters of Ajax's great rivals.
Van Gaal's name and that of former
Ajax player Daley Blind were booed loudly when they were read out on the public
address system.
The atmosphere turned flat in the
15th minute, however, when Shaw was sent flying into the air and dumped on to
the turf by Moreno's challenge.
The left-back ran into the box at
full pace only to be chopped down by Moreno from behind. He lay in agony on the
floor with his right foot at an angle, which indicated a break.
After lengthy treatment, Shaw was
carried off on a stretcher and driven to hospital.
With such a subdued atmosphere, the
game struggled to spark into life.
Martial headed a free-kick wide,
but, despite lots of possession, United lacked a killer touch.
Thankfully for Van Gaal, Depay was
in the mood to show his former employers what they were missing. The
Dutchman
received a pass from Blind, skipped past Santiago Arias and Jeffrey Bruma
before slotting the ball through the legs of PSV goalkeeper Jeroen Zoet.
As he had promised, Depay
celebrated, but not wildly.
Any celebrations were short-lived,
however, as PSV equalised five minutes later.
Moreno shrugged off Matteo Darmian
to head in Maxime Lestienne's corner. Blind tried to clear but instead ended up
helping the ball in with his head.
The game turned full circle as PSV
took the lead after half-time. Lestienne was the provider again. He latched on
to a crisp volleyed pass from Andres Guardado and floated a ball over Rojo's
head for Narsingh, who nodded in.
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