Wednesday 07/12/2011
Champions League Group Stage
Manchester United crash out at the group stages of the Champions League for only the 3rd time in 17 years.
United went into the tie only requiring a point to secure qualification to the knock out rounds of the Champions League. Last years finalists had made tough work of the group stages after three draws in five games, including a 3-3 at home to Basel.
United were without the suspended Michael Carrick as Phil Jones was selected in the centre of midfield for the second game running. Wayne Rooney started as the lone front man after the recent injuries to Dimitar Berbatov and Chicharito.
And it was the visitors who started in fine form, exploding out of the blocks looking to calm their nerves early in the game. United were completely dominating possession and looked to be on the brink of striking when, against the run of play FC Basel took the lead. When Xherdan Shaqiri fired in a cross from the left wing United defender Chris Smalling was down in the penalty area with a head injury. Marcos Streller was at hand at the back post to fire the Swiss Champions into an early lead. United were now on the back foot and needed to score at least one goal to have any chance of qualification.
United were stunned by the goal and despite dominating the game in midfield struggled to create any chances. On the stroke of half an hour United should have been level when Rooney inexplicably failed to turn the ball into the net from 2 yards after a superb Nani cross. The Portuguese winger was causing Basel the most problems, and was at the heart of every United attack, pushing his team forward, terrorising left back Joo-ho Park in the process.
For all their promise the reds play in the final third continued to frustrate and in the 44th minute they took another blow. Captain Nemanja Vidic fell awkwardly on his knee and it was instantly apparent he was in agony. United's recent injury woes continued as their talismanic captain was forced off. They went into half time with everything to do, but the hope remained, as one unanswered goal would still secure a stop in the last 16.
At the start of the second period United almost made an instant impact when Wayne Rooney broke on the left, cutting inside of the edge of the area, his curled effort went agonisingly wide. The game continued in a similar pattern, with United dominating the game but struggling to make the break through. David De Gea had to be on full alert when he excellently turned over an Alexander Frei free-kick.
United's probing almost paid off when Markus Steinhofer hammered the ball against his own cross bar following another Nani cross. United's time was running out and as they pushed everyone forward it was heart break for last years runners up, when Xherdan Shaqiri crossed following a rare Basel break, Chris Smalling failed to clear as A. Frei headed home from close range. United had three minutes to score two goals. The Europa League beckoned for a lacklustre United side. Phil Jones pulled one goal back in the dying embers of the game but it was to little to late and United dropped out of the Champions League at the group stage for the first time in six years.
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