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TAKING THE NIC

Watch Man Utd’s calamitous defending as Cypriot minnows Omonia take shock lead before brutal Ten Hag subs off Malacia

MANCHESTER UNITED went a goal down against Cypriot minnows Omonia Nicosia thanks to some shocking defending.

Neil Lennon's side took the unlikeliest of leads in tonight's Europa League clash when Karim Ansarifard finished off a textbook counter-attack.

Tyrell Malacia lost the ball high up the pitch
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Tyrell Malacia lost the ball high up the pitchCredit: BT SPORT
Omonia Nicosia punished the Red Devils with a clinical counter-attack
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Omonia Nicosia punished the Red Devils with a clinical counter-attackCredit: BT SPORT
Karim Ansarifard couldn't believe it when he opened the scoring against Manchester United
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Karim Ansarifard couldn't believe it when he opened the scoring against Manchester UnitedCredit: EPA

The goal came about after United themselves initially had a free-kick in a dangerous position.

After a Christian Eriksen cross was only cleared as far as Jadon Sancho, the winger had the ball at his feet with options in front of him.

Instead he turned back and played it into the feet of Tyrell Malacia.

But the left-back dawdled on the ball for too long, and was robbed of possession high up the pitch.

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And as he was the last man, Erik ten Hag's side were then in big trouble.

Bruno Felipe carried the ball towards the edge of the box, drawing in Eriksen before releasing Ansarifard at the perfect moment.

And the Iranian forward did the rest, coolly slotting past David De Gea and into the roof of the net.

Ten Hag responded to Malacia's error by brutally hooking the left-back for Luke Shaw at the break.

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While Sancho was also subbed off for Marcus Rashford after he played the ball into the Dutchman.

And the substitution turned out to be a masterstroke, with Rashford levelling the scores just minutes after coming on to the pitch.

Anthony Martial came on and scored United's second, and Rashford added another, before Nikolas Panayiotou scored a consolation late on.

But fans online couldn't quite believe that United went a goal down to a team who have won just ONE out of their last 26 games in European football.

One wrote on Twitter: "Malacia has blood on his hands."

Another said: "Just when you thought Manchester United couldn’t be worse after that 6-3 loss against Man City. They are down 1-0 against a team nobody’s heard of. Man UTD are finished."

And a third joked: "Even getting beat by semi pro sides now."

Omonia are currently fourth in the Cypriot First Division.

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