Riyadh's PSU tops Saudi universities in research quality    Historic Jeddah hosts 'Ramadan Season 2025' with diverse cultural events    Project launched to evaluate degraded sites in Saudi regions    Bevatel leads the WhatsApp Business API and Meta Solutions for GCC businesses    Aramco reports $106.2 billion net income for 2024    Trump's tariffs risk economic turbulence and voter backlash    Two dead after car plows into crowd in Germany    Pope Francis 'alert' after respiratory failure    Trump pauses US military aid to Ukraine following disastrous Oval Office meeting    In-person school classes will remain suspended in some parts of Makkah region on Tuesday    Al-Ahli CEO Ron Gourlay to step down in April    HONOR unveils New Corporate Strategy to Transition to an AI Device Ecosystem Company Illuminating a three-step roadmap underpinned by openness and collaboration    MEPCO lays the Foundation for PM5: A Groundbreaking Leap in Paper Production, doubling Supply Capacity and introducing Superior-Quality Paper to the Region    Secure 2030 by Seclore strengthens Data Sovereignty, Cybersecurity and Regulations in Saudi Arabia    UK death rate 'reaches record low'    Anora sweeps Oscars with best picture, best director and best actress for Mikey Madison    Bassogog stuns Al-Ittihad with last-minute equalizer as Al-Okhdood snatches a dramatic draw    Cristiano Ronaldo left out of Al-Nassr squad for AFC Champions League clash against Esteghlal in Iran    Toney's hat-trick stuns Al Hilal as Al Ahli claims thrilling victory in Saudi Clasico    King Salman prays for peace and stability for Palestinians in Ramadan message King reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims    SFDA warns against Maragatty chicken broth for containing banned colorants    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Danish minnow humiliates United
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 20 - 02 - 2016

The Europa League was supposed to offer some respite in a tough season for Manchester United, and give the team a back-door route into next season's Champions League.
Instead, the competition has provided a new dose of ignominy for the fallen English giant — and deepened its already-extensive injury list.
United squandered a lead and lost 2-1 to FC Midtjylland in the first leg of their last-32 match Thursday. The Danish club was featuring at this stage in European competition for the first time, was playing its first competitive game for two months while on a winter break from domestic competition, and was only formed in 1999 — the year United won the Champions League-Premier League-FA Cup treble.
Those glory years under Alex Ferguson are long gone for United, with this latest humiliation heaping more pressure on current manager Louis van Gaal while his team stumbles in fifth place in the Premier League. United was only playing in the Europa League after being ousted from the Champions League at the group stage.
"In the second half, I have to say Midtjylland was winning every ball," an unhappy Van Gaal said, before lamenting a knee injury sustained by goalkeeper David de Gea in the warm-up that took United's list of absentees to 14 players.
The biggest winners were in Spain, where Valencia — managed by former United captain Gary Neville — thrashed Rapid Vienna 6-0, and Sevilla boosted its quest for a third straight title in Europe's second-tier competition by beating Molde 3-0. A Spaniard also scored possibly the goal of the night, with Aritz Aduriz sending a looping volley into the net from 30 meters to give Athletic Bilbao a 1-0 win at Marseille.
Borussia Dortmund beat FC Porto 2-0 through goals by right back Lukasz Piszczek and Germany forward Marco Reus, and Denis Suarez scored with a free kick off the underside of the crossbar to give Villarreal a 1-0 win at home to Napoli.
Fiorentina and Tottenham drew 1-1, and Liverpool was held 0-0 at Augsburg.
It would have been more embarrassing for Man United in Denmark had it not been for a string of brilliant saves by Sergio Romero, drafted in at the late minute to replace De Gea.
Paul Onuachu was one of those denied by Romero's acrobatics, but the substitute had the final say when he beat Juan Mata to the ball on the edge of the area and drove a low shot inside the post. Mata, whose attempted tackle was weak, was immediately substituted.
Netherlands winger Memphis Depay gave United the lead in the 37th with his first goal in 2016, before Pione Sisto equalized with a low, slightly deflected shot after pouncing on Michael Carrick's poor pass in midfield.
The second leg is next Thursday at Old Trafford.
"Still we have a chance, I think," Van Gaal said.
After a tough start to managerial life at Valencia, it's two wins in a week for Neville. His team became the first team to score five goals in the first half of a Europa League game, with Santi Mina grabbing two of them against Rapid. Fernando Llorente scored two goals and Kevin Gameiro added a third for Sevilla in a comfortable home win as the Spanish team looks to back up title wins in 2014 and ‘15.
Tottenham was pegged back after scoring a penalty through Nacer Chadli, with Federico Bernardeschi grabbing Fiorentina's second-half equalizer.
Anderlecht, Saint-Etienne, Bayer Leverkusen and Sparta Prague were also winners. — AP


Clic here to read the story from its source.