FC Copenhagen vs Man United score, result, highlights as Roony Bardghji sinks Ten Hag's ten men after Rashford sees red

Dom Farrell

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FC Copenhagen vs Man United score, result, highlights as Roony Bardghji sinks Ten Hag's ten men after Rashford sees red image

The name Rooney has delighted Manchester United fans so often in the Champions League but, on a crazy night in Copenhagen, Roony Bardghji broke their hearts to leave their hopes of reaching the knockout stages in tatters.

United led 2-0 and 3-2 at Parken against FC Copenhagen, with Bruno Fernandes's second-half penalty coming after Marcus Rashford was sent off following a VAR review of his challenge on Elias Jelert.

That flashpoint turned the match on its head after Rasmus Hojlund eased United into a 2-0 lead inside half an hour and moved on to five Champions League goals this season.

But a VAR review of an incident where Rashford attempted to shield the ball from Jelert saw the England forward dismissed as replays showed his studs plunging into the left-back's ankle, which buckled under the impact.

MORE: Will Man United sack Erik ten Hag? Odds, next games for Red Devils as pressure builds on manager

FC Copenhagen vs Man United final score

  2nd Half Goalscorers
Copenhagen 4 Elyounoussi '45, Goncalves '45+9 (pen), Lerager' 83, Bardghji '87
Man United 3 Hojlund '3, '28, Fernandes' 69 (pen)

Lineups:

Copenhagen (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Kamil Grabara (GK) — 22. Peter Ankersen (6. Christian Sørensen), 3. Denis Vavro (20. Nicolai Boilesen), 2. Kevin Diks, 19. Elias Jelert — 12. Lukas Lerager, 33. Rasmus Falk, 9. Diogo Goncalves (18. Orri Óskarsson)  — 10. Mohamed Elyounoussi (10. Roony Bardghji), 7. Viktor Claesson, 30. Mohamed Achouri (11. Jordan Larsson).

Man United (4-2-3-1, right to left): 24. Andre Onana (GK) — 29. Aaron Wan-Bissaka, 5. Harry Maguire, 35. Jonny Evans (19. Raphael Varane), 20. Diogo Dalot — 39. Scott McTominay, 14. Christian Eriksen (4. Sofyan Amrabat) — 10. Marcus Rashford, 8. Bruno Fernandes, 17. Alejandro Garnacho — 11. Rasmus Højlund (7. Mason Mount).

At a time when an injury-hit United defence needed to hold out they capitulated, with ex-Southampton forward Mohamed Elyounoussi smartly converting Jelert's cutback. Harry Maguire then handled when Viktor Claesson tried to flick the ball past him in the area and Diogo Goncalves coolly sent Andre Onana the wrong way.

An unusually passive start to the second half from Jacob Neestrup's side helped United to reassert themselves. When Lukas Lerager was punished for handball on review, Portugal star Fernandes was just as nerveless as his compatriot Goncalves from 12 yards.

But as they did at the end of the first-half, United fell apart when Copenhagen belatedly upped the pressure. Lerager converted a cross from the excellent Rasmus Falk before one brought two again, with the teenager Bardghji crashing a shot into the turf and beyond Onana to spark delirious scenes.

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Can Manchester United still qualify in the Champions League?

Yes. In fact, they could finish matchday five in second place and with their fate in their hands. But that will require a side that has lost nine out of 17 games this season heading into a cauldron at Galatasaray and emerging with three points. United also ideally need Bayern Munich, who have already qualified as group winners, to beat Copenhagen next time out before lying down and having their tummies tickled on the final matchday at Old Trafford. After a night when everything went against United, it all feels a little hard to envisage.

MORE: Man United Champions League group stage standings

Should Marcus Rashford have been sent off? How many games will the Manchester United star miss?

Much like both penalty decisions, when offenders Maguire and Lerager didn’t really have too much opportunity to avoid their fate, by the letter of the law referee Donatas Rumsas made the right call when he checked the pitchside monitor and showed Rashford a red card. Without stating the obvious, that has to be the basis by which he operates.

Whether Rashford’s red card felt merited, whether the rules of football have mutated too much to accommodate the VAR age, that’s another conversation — one that former professionals from Paul Scholes and Owen Hargreaves to Jamie Carragher and Ian Wright were very eager to have. But this isn’t on Rumsas. Once he saw Rashford’s studs make contact with Jelert’s ankle and watched his planted leg buckle under the impact, there was only one decision for him to make if he wants to take charge of further UEFA matches this season.

If you’re disappointed by the lack of grey areas in this instance, fear not! If Rashford was given a similar straight red in the Premier League, it would be an automatic three-match ban. It’s not as straightforward in the Champions League. Any red card means an automatic one-match ban, meaning he will miss the trip to Galatasaray.

"In case of serious offences, the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body is entitled to augment this [red card] punishment," reads Article 52 of the competition rules. In Rashford’s case, this will mean a red card for endangering an opponent being weighed up against what felt like an obvious lack of malice. If United’s Champions League future remains to be decided against Bayern, he might yet be involved.

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Will Erik ten Hag be sacked?

This was a night for Ten Hag to rue rotten luck. His team swaggered into a 2-0 lead before half-time. Hojlund enjoyed two simple finishes, but his powerful running and intelligent movement showcased his considerable potential. Rashford’s red card changed the game and United reacted like a side low on confidence in its immediate aftermath.

The halftime introduction of Sofyan Amrabat helped the visitors to regain control. Fernandes was given licence to roam and would have been a worthy match-winner. It could have been a famous, pressure-easing victory for Ten Hag. 

Unfortunately for the United manager, when you’ve overseen a team that has been so moribund for large parts of the season, it’s slightly fanciful to expect them to keep their heads when a high-pressure Champions League game starts spinning out of control. Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s backpass to Andre Onana that led to the corner for Lerager’s equaliser was ridiculous.

Maguire and Raphael Varane’s haphazard play at the back leading to Bardghji’s winner was bizarre, much like their manager's decision to bring on Mason Mount for the ever-threatening Hojlund. The marking from Diogo Dalot and others on each late goal was atrocious.

The uncomfortable truth for Ten Hag is that the malaise he has helmed means that even on relatively good nights, very bad things can happen. But they’ll beat Luton Town this weekend… won’t they?

MORE: Erik ten Hag's Man United signings: Rating each transfer a success, pass or failure

FC Copenhagen vs Man United live updates, highlights, and commentary

Fulltime: Grabara almost makes a mess of Fernandes' shot from deep. He doesn't deserve to finish on the losing side tonight but that's it. A famous European night for Copenhagen. United are bottom of the group with three defeats from four and their Champions League hopes hanging by a thread.

90th minute+2: Harry Maguire with the piledriver! Clatters the crossbar. The referee had blown for what looked like a very soft foul. Boy, that would have been controversial.

90th minute: Five minutes of additional time for United to save themselves on this crazy night.

87th minute: GOOOOAAAAALLLLLLL!!!! Roony Bardghji!!!!

The teenager has surely won it for Copenhagen! United in trouble after Varane gives the ball away near his own box. Claesson has a shot so bad it doesn't go out for a goal kick. When it comes back in, Bardghji smacks his shot into the turf and beyond Onana.

85th minute: A jinking run from Bardghji and a low cross is hacked clear by United. You have to wonder where this energy was from Copenhagen for the majority of the half.

83rd minute: GOOOOAAAAALLLLLLL!!!! Lukas Lerager!!!!!

United aren't able to fully clear their lines and the ball pinballs around. Falk floats in a cross from the left-hand corner of the box and Lerager steals in at the back post to level again. What a game this is!

82nd minute: Onana has been very solid tonight but he did not need to give that corner away.

81st minute: A United corner is delayed because some fans are throwing objects at Fernandes. When the ball comes in, Maguire lumps the ball into the net but there's a foul on Grabara.

78th minute: Ohh, McTominay botches a chance to seal it. United turn over possession high up in the Copenhagen half. Fernandes is on the charge. His pass to McTominay might have had a bit too much on it, but that can't fully explain a wildly wayward finish.

73rd minute: Harry Kane has given Bayern the lead against Galatasaray in Munich. As things stand, United are going up to second in the ground.

69th minute: GOOOOAAAAALLLLLLL!!!! Bruno Fernandes (pen)!!!!!!

Emphatic stuff as Fernandes clatters the ball into the top left corner. Grabara guessed incorrectly but it wouldn't have mattered if he'd gone the right way. The 10 men lead at Parken.

68th minute: PENALTY TO MANCHESTER UNITED! Maguire's header ricocheted off Lerager's outstretched arm. Very little distance between the two players but under the modern interpretation in this competition, as with the earlier penalty and Rashford's red card. the ref has done what he's supposed to do.

66th minute: United's players are getting stuck into the referee. First Vavro catches Hojlund with an arm, which looks a bit naughty. From the resulting free-kick there's a handball claim... and he's heading over to the monitor.

65th minute: Bardghji gets into his work, running at a back-pedalling United defence. But his shot is way off target.

63rd minute: The goalscorer Elyounoussi makes way having passed a late fitness test to start. Highly rated teenager Roony Bardghji is into the fray. Can Wayne's near-namesake break United hearts. 

62nd minute: Things still just bubbling under a bit, but Copenhagen have gradually nudged United back. The defence getting so deep towards the end of the first half is where their problems occurred. Goncalves wanting a volley miles over the bar is less of a problem.

56th minute: The referee has a word with Onana for a bit of time-wasting on a goal kick. United then give the ball away to Claesson deep in their own half but manage to scramble away.

54th minute: End-to-end action as a cross is aimed towards Claesson but he can't get enough purchase on his looping header to trouble Onana.

53rd minute: Room for Garnacho to operate. He's turned in a little gem of a performance so far. Dalot gets up in support from left-back and his shot is saved by Grabara at the near post.

52nd minute: Vavro is allowed to shoot from the best part of 30 yards. Onana tumbles to his right to gather unfussily. United's 10 men won't mind the game taking place there.

50th minute: United are knocking the ball about with calm assurance. Where was this in the immediate aftermath of Rashford's red card? A strangely subdued start to the half from Copenhagen.

46th minute: Here we go again then. What a huge 45 minutes for Erik ten Hag's Manchester United tenure this is. Amrabat is on for Eriksen.

Halftime: Well, that was quite something. United were deservedly 2-0 up thanks to a poacher's brace from Rasmus Hojlund. He's the joint top scorer in the Champions League this season but United now face a serious fight for their future in the competition. Marcus Rashford's red card for plunging his studs - fairly obviously without malice - into Elias Jelert's ankle - turned the game on its head. United needed to hang in there but they quickly imploded.

Mohamed Elyounoussi's smart finish quickly reduced the arrears and Diogo Goncalves succeeded where Jordan Larsson failed from 12 yards two weeks ago after Harry Maguire's handball. Grab yourself some refreshments — stiff drinks optional — and we'll see you back here shortly.

45th minute+9: GOOOOAAAAALLLLLLL!!!! Diogo Goncalves (pen)!!!!

No heroics from Onana this time as Goncalves coolly sends him the wrong way, slotting into the bottom left corner.

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45th minute+7: PENALTY TO COPENHAGEN!!!! Maguire blocks a flick from Claesson with his arm and the referee points to the spot. This is all falling apart for United.

45th minute+3: Copenhagen are a side transformed and know they have a huge opportunity now. Diks unleashes a dipping shot from distance that Onana watches wide.

45th minute+1: There will be 13 minutes of additional time. Not the news the 10 men from Manchester wanted to hear. Oh, but here's Fernandes flashing a dangerous ball across goal. Ten Hag's men fighting fire with fire?

45th minute: GOOOOAAAAALLLLLLL!!!! Mohamed Elyounoussi!!!!!

Game on and a nightmare couple of minutes for United. It's full-back to full-back as Jelert diverts Ankersen's deep cross back across goal for Elyounoussi to dispatch a smart finish.

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43rd minute: Against the crossbar! Goncalves whips in the free-kick from where Rashford's challenge occurred and it rattles Onana's furniture. 

42nd minute: RED CARD: MARCUS RASHFORD SENT OFF AFTER VAR REVIEW! After Achouri was dispossessed, Rashford snapped in to get his body in between the ball and Copenhagen left-back Jelert. There was no malice in his challenge but he trod on Jelert's ankle. It looks like dangerous play and the referee had no choice once he saw the replay.

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41st minute: Errrrm, you know that piece of Rashford defending I was praising...

40th minute: Achouri tries to jink into the United box but Rashford is back to help out Wan-Bissaka and snuff out the attack. Now United come away on the break again, another fabulous ball from Fernandes and Hojlund's pace and movement is there for all to enjoy. He fires just wide under pressure.

35th minute: Captain Claesson tries to get Copenhagen going as he drops deep and slots a pass through for Lerager. It's overhit through and the midfielder goes down in a heap.

29th minute: Almost a hat-trick for Hojlund! Copenhagen get themselves in a mess, McTominay picks up the pieces and Hojlund catches a half-volley sweetly from about 15 yards. Grabara atones for his culpability for the second goal with an excellent save.

28th minute: GOOOOAAAAALLLLLLL!!!! Rasmus Hojlund!!!!

A lightning counter-attack and another simple finish for Hojlund, who moves on to five Champions League goals this season. Fernandes breaks through midfield and times his pass to Garnacho perfectly. The Argentinian winger's shot is saved but Hojlund has a tap-in from the rebound.

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25th minute: The stadium announcer has reported that the fan taken ill earlier is now awake and well, which is a huge relief.

24th minute: Brave and vital goalkeeping from Onana. Wan Bissaka switches off as Elyounoussi curls a low ball to the far post and Achouri almost gets there ahead of the United goalkeeper.

18th minute: There's a further delay due to a medical emergency in the crowd.

16th minute: Evans' race is run. Varane is on in his place.

12th minute: United back off Falk, whose shot is gathered by Onana at the second attempt. Perhaps that passive approach to defending was informed by a problem for Jonny Evans, who needs some treatment.

11th minute: Lovely play from Garnacho, twisting and turning to beat Ankersen. His cutback just evades McTominay.

9th minute: United have consolidated their early goal with controlled assurance. No sniff for Copenhagen when it comes to getting back on terms.

3rd minute: GOOOOAAAAALLLLLLL!!!! Rasmus Hojlund!!!!

Dream start for United. Rashford, who's started on the right, plays a ball into the path of Wan-Bissaka. The full-back's cute reverse pass finds McTominay, who drills across goal to give Hojlund a simple finish against his former club. That's four goals for Hojlund in a United shirt, with all of them in the Champions League.

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1st minute: Copenhagen get forward from kickoff and have an early penalty claim. McTominay turned a cross against Maguire's arm. No doubt about that, but the centre-back had his arm in a natural position for an accidental contact so the referee is right to give nothing.

3 mins to kickoff: And here come the teams. A pretty spectacular scene is set at this distinctive arena.

6 mins to kickoff: Whipping things up a little more...

15 mins to kickoff: Copenhagen fans are known for creating an intimidating atmosphere at Parken and the stadium DJ has just stuck on the Imperial March from Star Wars. Feels like some statement of intent.

20 mins to kickoff: Scott McTominay is another player enjoying a run of starts under Ten Hag, having not always been flavour of the month as the Dutchman. The Scotland international has weighed in with important goals and is a willing runner irrespective of the game situation. However, as Paul Scholes and Owen Hargreaves have just been discussing on TNT Sports' coverage in the UK, McTominay and Christian Eriksen not being entirely comfortable in the deep-lying midfield roles can cause problems in and out of possession.

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40 mins to kickoff: Former Southampton attacker Mohamed Elyounoussi has passed a late fitness test to start for Copenhagen, although Rasmus Hojlund's brother Oscar is on the bench to make way for Diogo Goncalves in midfield. That particularly delicious piece of narrative might have to wait until the second half.

1 hr 5 mins to kickoff: This is what the hosts' will look like at kickoff. Larsson is on the bench again after his penalty woe at Old Trafford. Jacob Neestrup's side have won three out of three since then.

1 hr 10 mins to kickoff: Here's how United line up tonight. Marcus Rashford returns in place of Antony, the only change from the win at Craven Cottage. That means Jonny Evans alongside Harry Maguire at centre-back, with Raphael Varane on the bench once more.

1 hr 20 mins to kickoff: It's worth reflecting on Maguire's performances at a tough time for his club. When he put through his own goal during England's win over Scotland in September, he looked like a player who needed saving from himself. Injuries to the likes of Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane have since seen him restored to the United starting line-up and Maguire suddenly feels vital to their prospects overall. Without him, they would not be stepping out in Copenhagen tonight with a win on the board in the Champions League, while he was the best player on the pitch during the dogged but restorative 1-0 win at Fulham last time out.

1 hr 40 mins to kickoff: Heading into injury time when these sides met at Old Trafford two weeks ago, Manchester United's Champions League campaign was on the verge of collapse. But the much-maligned Andre Onana saved Jordan Larsson's penalty, meaning a second-half goal from the relentlessly maligned Harry Maguire was enough to secure United the three points.

If all goes as expected tonight, the Premier League giants win at Parken and Galatasaray lose at Bayern Munich, United will be second in Group A with two matches remaining. At the same time, given their overall performances this season, this feels like a pretty massive assumption to make on the part of Erik ten Hag's side.

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2 hours to kickoff: Hello and welcome to The Sporting News's live coverage of FC Copenhagen vs. Manchester United. Erik ten Hag's side battled to a 1-0 win over the Danish champions on matchday three and need another win tonight after back-to-back losses to Bayern Munich and Galatasaray. 

FC Copenhagen vs Man United lineups, team news

Jacob Neestrup's side are top of the Danish Superliga, but he makes three changes from the 4-2 win over Randers. 

Diogo Goncalves replaces Rasmus Hojlund's brother Oscar in midfield, while Mohamed Elyounoussi and Viktor Claessen come in to freshen up the from three in place of Andreas Cornelius and Roony Bardghji 

FC Copenhagen starting lineup (4-3-3): Grabara (GK) — Ankersen, Vavro, Diks, Jelert — Lerager, Falk, Goncalves — Elyounoussi, Claesson, Achouri.

Marcus Rashford returns to the United XI after he missed the win at Fulham with a leg injury.

That's the only change to the side that beat Fulham at the weekend, meaning Raphael Varane has to be content with a place on the bench once more despite United's injury woes.

Man United starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Onana (GK) — Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Evans, Dalot — McTominay, Eriksen — Rashford, Fernandes, Garnacho — Højlund.

FC Copenhagen vs Man United live stream, TV channel

The FC Copenhagen vs. Manchester United match from the Champions League kicks off at 9:00 p.m. local time (CET) from Parken in Copenhagen.

Below are the corresponding times, TV channels, and live streams to watch the match in regions around the world

  Date Kickoff time TV Streaming
USA Wed, Nov. 8 3:00 p.m. ET — Paramount+, ViX
Canada Wed, Nov. 8  3:00 p.m. ET — DAZN
UK Wed, Nov. 8

8:00 p.m. GMT

 TNT Sport 1 discovery+
Australia Thu, Nov. 9  7:00 a.m. AEST — Stan Sport
India Thu, Nov. 9 1:30 a.m. IST — Sony LIV, JioTV
Hong Kong Thu, Nov. 9 4:00 a.m. HKT beIN Sports 3 beIN Sports Connect
Malaysia Thu, Nov. 9 4:00 a.m. MYT beIN Sports 3 beIN Sports Connect, sooka
Singapore Thu, Nov. 9 4:00 a.m. SGT beIN Sports 3 beIN Sports Connect, StarHubTV+
New Zealand Thu, Nov. 9  9:00 a.m. NZST — beIN Sports Connect

Dom Farrell

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Dom is the senior content producer for Sporting News UK. He previously worked as fan brands editor for Manchester City at Reach Plc. Prior to that, he built more than a decade of experience in the sports journalism industry, primarily for the Stats Perform and Press Association news agencies. Dom has covered major football events on location, including the entirety of Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup in Paris and St Petersburg respectively, along with numerous high-profile Premier League, Champions League and England international matches. Cricket and boxing are his other major sporting passions and he has covered the likes of Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, Wladimir Klitschko, Gennadiy Golovkin and Vasyl Lomachenko live from ringside.