How Manchester United surrendered two-goal lead to draw 3-3 vs Galatasaray in Champions League

After United’s 4-3 defeat to Bayern Munich in the first matchweek, Andre Onana decided to give an interview of his own volition to apologise.

“We started very well and after my mistake we lost control of the game,” Onana said. “It’s a difficult situation for me, I let the team down. It’s because of me we didn’t win this game.”

It’s been a rollercoaster Champions League campaign for the Cameroon international, who again made goalkeeping errors in Turkey to turn a comfortable win into a damaging draw. Onana was wrong-footed by the flight of Ziyech’s free kick for Galatasaray’s first goal. The ball travelled in the gap vacated by the two Galatasaray players stood next to Fernandes, just as the United keeper had taken a step in the opposite direction.

Ziyech’s second free kick, which like the first, was given away by Fernandes, went in due to a genuine howler. Onana somehow leapt over the ball at a crucial moment and let the ball trickle past him. Galatasaray’s third goal from Kerem Akturkoglu was too strong and too fast for any blame to be apportioned to Onana, but it is concerning that a goalkeeper who was so impressive for Inter Milan last season seems to be so error-prone for United.

Onana has a rising tendency to parry shots back into dangerous areas when making saves – particularly towards his left (the right of the goal).

Four massive errors across five games have dramatically changed the complexion of Group A and have left United with only a slim chance of qualifying for the knockout stages.

United have scored 12 goals in the Champions League group stage — only Atletico Madrid and Manchester City have more than them. It is bizarre/frustrating/farcical (take your pick) that a team that scores so freely is still a ways off from qualifying for the knockout rounds.

Before kick-off Ten Hag informed his players to treat the loud whistles from Galatasaray fans as a compliment, a sign they were doing their jobs properly. Things were looking good after Garnacho and Fernandes’ goals put United 2-0 up.

And then — as has happened with every game in United’s Champions League campaign — the tide began to turn. A midfield of Scott McTominay, Sofyan Amrabat and Fernandes found themselves vulnerable to the pacey counter-attacks of Galatasaray, and Ziyech’s free kick in the 29th minute wrong-footed Onana and halved United’s lead. McTominay struck after half-time, but another Ziyech free kick and then Kerem Akturkoglu's strike levelled the game.

When the scores reached 3-3, midfield shape got abandoned and chaos reigned. On UK broadcaster TNT Sport, commentator Darren Fletcher described as it being “like schoolboy football”, as players on both sides went running after the ball trying to find a last-minute winner.

Rio Ferdinand said it “like a basketball game” such was the up-and-down nature of things.

A 30-second period saw Zaha go close with an attempt, only for United to march down the other end and a shot from Fernandes to hit the outside of the post.

A low cross from Diogo Dalot in the 89th minute set the cat among the pigeons and heart in mouths, but Facundo Pellistri could not quite get a connection.

More than 30 attempts were made on goal between two teams desperate to make the Champions League knockout stages. Copenhagen and Bayern Munich must have watched this early kick-off as they waited for their own clash and chuckled at the madness.

For the neutral it was thrilling. For the United or Galatasaray fan, it would have been agony.

Buruk also spoke about Galatasaray's final group-stage match away to Copenhagen, referencing his club's famous win in that city in the 2000 UEFA Cup final: "We wrote an epic there 23 years ago and now we go back to write another. Copenhagen are a very good team, with great fans. It's a tough place to go but we hope we can achieve another famous success there by showcasing the quality of our players."

A midfielder in his playing days, Buruk started that UEFA Cup final against Arsenal in 2000 in Copenhagen. Galatasaray won on penalties after a 0-0 draw despite playing most of extra time with ten men.

Bayern Munich and Copenhagen are tied 0-0 in Germany at half-time. Chances have been at a premium for both sides.

United are rooting for Bayern in this match as a Copenhagen win would eliminate them from knockout-round contention.

Erik ten Hag also spoke to TNT Sports after United's disappointing draw: "We were winning and then we're losing it. We should have taken three points, that's clear. We did this in other games. I was pleased with how we played but at the same time I have to criticise the team because the defending is not good enough. We are leading 3-1 and we cannot afford mistakes as it makes a difference.

"Every goal has its own story. Whether it's a transition moment and we don't block the middle, or the second goal which is a free kick, and the third goal we are organised but have an overload. That cannot happen. We have to learn from that.

"I am very pleased because you see the style of this team which is proactive, dynamic and brave. I was pleased with the performance because we created so many chances but at the same time we have to win this game."

On who is to blame for surrendering leads: "It's always me. I am responsible for this. We know we are in a project. We are making improvements so that's very hopeful. We are going in the right direction so I know we will be successful in the long term but if you want to stay in the Champions League you need to win these games."

Kerem Aktürkoğlu, who scored Galatasaray's third goal, spoke about his hopes of reaching the last 16 after the match: "The important thing was to avoid defeat, and we never stopped fighting. Now we want to win the last match and get out of the group.

"We have made history before in Copenhagen (in the 2000 UEFA Cup final against Arsenal). It is a very special place for Galatasaray. Win and we make more."

Hakim Ziyech, scorer of Galatasaray's first two goals, was named Player of the Match by UEFA. It's Technical Observer Panel said of his performance: "He was very effective coming in from the wide-right position, making excellent passes and creating several goalscoring opportunities. He scored two free kicks and claimed an assist with an excellent pass for Galatasaray's third."

After the match, Ziyech spoke about the result: "This was an important point today. My team-mates and I did our best to achieve it on the pitch. It was all in our hands and we did what we had to do. We want to reach the knockouts."

Two one-goal leads against Galatasaray at home – loss.

Leads of two goals and one goal against Copenhagen – loss.

A pair of two-goal leads against Galatasaray today – draw.

With decent game management, Manchester United would have already clinched qualification in the knockout stage by now. Instead, they're facing long odds to finish in second place in the group.

More from Ten Hag assessing his team's performance: “I think as a team we played very well. We win and lose together. You see the progress in this team. I take many positives from this game. We made some mistakes but we played the way I want my team to play. It was dynamic, brave and we scored great goals. We should have won with big chances from McTominay and Facundo Pellistri. I am disappointed because we should have won the game.”

On United failing to retain their lead: "We scored quickly after each other. It’s about the point when you are 2-0 up and you have to manage the game. We give free kicks away and we have to defend them better. Hakim (Ziyech) is brilliant, I know that, and he is extraordinary. In such areas, we have to be in more control. It is always about incidents and details and we can do better. As a team we are conceding too many goals and it is unnecessary. I am sure our team is capable and experienced enough to cope better.”

Erik ten Hag was asked after the match what he made of Andre Onana's performance, after the goalkeeper was at fault for multiple goals today: “He is OK. As I said, it is not about individuals. Individual errors in football can make a difference and you take responsibility for it, but it is always about the team. All the players in this squad deserve to play for Manchester United because they are brilliant players.”

On whether Onana's celebrations after Fernandes' goal meant he wasn't focused: “It is difficult to make that connection, to see that as a cause for the misfocus. It is the brilliance of Hakim (Ziyech). He has scored so many goals against the best goalkeepers in the world in that way.”

Manchester United have now conceded 33 goals in all competitions this season. That stands as the most in club history in the opening 20 matches of any season since 1962-63.

This has particularly been a problem in the Champions League, where they've conceded 14 goals in just five matches. That mark stands as three more than any other English side have ever allowed in their opening five games in a UCL campaign.

Andre Onana's performance in the Champions League this season has been quite mad. I can’t remember one player being so definitively involved in an entire group stage campaign.

Several goals directly to blame for at Bayern. Caused Casemiro to get sent off and then fell over for a one-on-one at home against Galatasaray. Then saved a penalty in second-half stoppage time against Copenhagen. Then dived the wrong way for a free kick tonight. Then pirouetted on the halfway line. Then fell over for another one-on-one, which was thankfully offside for his sake. Then mishandled the second free-kick goal.

Don't forget, David de Gea is still a free agent...

A game of total madness. Not a second to pause. Hugely entertaining.

But it's scandalous that Manchester United failed to win. They should be able to close out from 2-0 and 3-1 up. Even late on, they had so many chances to win it but constantly took wrong the decisions.

It's remarkable that United have scored nine goals away from home in this group and failed to win any of those three matches.