BERN, Switzerland: Cristiano Ronaldo’s early goal could not save Manchester United from another Champions League loss in Switzerland, 2-1 on Tuesday against a sharp and robust Young Boys team.
Jordan Siebatcheu, the United States forward on as a substitute, struck in the fifth and last minute of stoppage time when the ball broke into space behind the United defense.
Ronaldo’s record-extending 135th Champions League goal in the 13th minute was the first of his — and United’s — only two shots of the game. He was substituted in the 72nd.
It was created by Bruno Fernandes’ clever pass with the outside of his right foot into the path of Ronaldo for a low shot that squirmed under goalkeeper David von Ballmoos.
Reduced to 10 men in the 35th minute after a red-card foul by Aaron Wan-Bissaka, the Premier League co-leader struggled to create any more scoring chances against the unheralded Swiss champion.
United was already under regular pressure before Wan-Bissaka’s rash challenge on Christopher Martins deep in the Young Boys half.
Young Boys deservedly leveled in the 66th when midfielder Nicolas Moumi Ngamaleu met a low cross into a crowded goalmouth with a shot that beat goalkeeper David de Gea at his near post.
It proved to be another tough Swiss trip for United after losing in the group stage at Basel twice in the past decade.
Ronaldo claimed a share of more Champions League history just by playing his first United game in the competition since the 2009 final. His 177th career appearance in the Champions League tied the record held by Iker Casillas, his longtime teammate at Real Madrid.
The Champions League qualifying rounds seemed to have prepared Young Boys well for facing a star-studded United team playing just its fifth competitive game of the season.
The Swiss team was sharp and physical in its 13th game of a season that started in mid-July with the first of six Champions League qualifiers.
Also in Group F on Tuesday, Villarreal was hosting Atalanta in a later kickoff.
United hosts Villarreal on Sept. 29 — a rematch of last season’s Europa League final the Spanish club won. Atalanta hosts Young Boys on the same date.
Ronaldo scores but Man United beaten 2-1 at Young Boys
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Ronaldo scores but Man United beaten 2-1 at Young Boys
- Jordan Siebatcheu, the United States forward on as a substitute, struck in the fifth and last minute of stoppage time
- Ronaldo’s record-extending 135th Champions League goal in 13th minute was the first of his — and United’s — only two shots of the game
$1.5m Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Cup draws strong field
- Nasser Mutlaq saddles 4 for Friday feature at King Abdulaziz Racecourse
- Nadem Al-Molwk Al-Khalediah top rated of 11 runners
RIYADH: Trainer Nasser Mutlaq will saddle four runners in this year’s $1.5 million (SR5.6 million) Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Cup, which takes place on Friday at the King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh.
Nadem Al-Molwk Al-Khalediah, ridden by Adel Alfouraidi, is the pick of Mutlaq’s entries for the Group 1 event, which is the jewel in the crown of the two-day Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Arabian Horse Festival.
Despite having run only six times, the 6-year-old has four wins and is top-rated of the 11 runners for the 1,800 meter feature.
Last time out he beat the reopposing French-trained Al Kaaser by four lengths in the G3 Imam Turki bin Abdullah Sword on Dec. 27. Turki Al-Khalediah II and Mutwakel Alkhalediah, which finished third and fourth in that race, and recent winner Mostabsil Al-Khalediah complete the Mutlaq quartet.
Another French raider is Moshrif, trained by Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte, which chased home Tilal AI Khalediah in the G1 Al-Mneefah Cup during last year’s Saudi Cup weekend.
Mutlaq will also be well represented in Friday’s $300,000 Princess Mounira Bint Abdulaziz Bin Musaed Bin Jalawi Cup over 1,600 meters, saddling three of the eight runners.
His trio comprises Bint Ghaliat Al Khalediah, which was second to Tilal AI-Khalediah in Taif in September, Mubarizat Alkhalediah and Maitha Al Khalediah. France will be represented by the Elizabeth Bernard-trained Algheed.
Thursday’s feature is the Group 2 $500,000 Al Khalediah Stable International Cup over 1,600 meters, in which Nawahel Alkhalediah and Nijinski Al Maury stand out in a field of eight after finishing sixth and seventh respectively behind Nadem Al-Molwk Al-Khalediah last month.
Before that will be the inaugural running of the $100,000 Mutlaq bin Moshrif Cup, staged in honor of Nasser Mutlaq’s father, who died last year.
Saturday’s all-thoroughbred card features the 2,400 meter $40,000 Al-Jouf Region Governorate Cup which has a full field of 20 declared and includes two runners for the White Stable of King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz, headed by jockey Camilio Ospina’s course and distance winner Almaqam.
Also on the card is the $40,000 Ministry of Environment, Water & Agriculture Cup over 1,600 meters for fillies and mares. The British-trained Dance Desire for the Ricardo Ferreira, Thamer Aldaihani, Sheikh Abdullah Homoud Almalek Alsabah combination is top rated.
