Soccer Football - Champions League - Group A - Galatasaray v Manchester United - RAMS Park, Istanbul, Turkey - November 29, 2023 Galatasaray's Mauro Icardi celebrates after Hakim Ziyech scores their second goal REUTERS/Murad Sezer
ISTANBUL (Reuters) -Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana made two bad errors as hosts Galatasaray twice fought back from two goals down to earn a thrilling 3-3 draw on Wednesday and leave the English side's hopes of reaching the Champions League last 16 in serious doubt.
Alejandro Garnacho, Bruno Fernandes and Scott McTominay scored for United in a breathless game, but Erik ten Hag's team remained bottom of Group A on four points from five matches, one point adrift of Copenhagen and Galatasaray.
"It's obviously really bad. We lost really bad goals and had to have control of that situation," United captain Fernandes told TNT Sports.
The three-times European champions' hopes of advancing will come down to the final round of games after Copenhagen drew 0-0 at Bayern Munich.
United must beat Bayern, the Group A winners, on Dec. 12 to progress.
"We should have taken all three points, clearly," Ten Hag said. "But we should have done that in other games, too. Away to Copenhagen, home to Galatasaray, we play so good.
"But at the same time I have to criticise them as defending we aren't good enough. Winning 3-1, we can't afford to make these mistakes as it makes the difference."
Ten Hag would not point the finger at Onana.
"I think every goal we conceded has its own story," he said. "They come from transition moments and we don't block the middle.
The visitors roared into an early 2-0 lead through Garnacho, fresh from his spectacular overhead strike at Everton, and a stunning shot by Fernandes before Hakim Ziyech pulled one back from a free kick following an error by Onana.
McTominay put United 3-1 up soon after halftime but their cushion was short-lived as Ziyech slotted home another free kick under the arm of Onana and Muhammed Kerem Akturkoglu equalised for Galatasaray in the 71st minute.
Galatasaray welcomed United to RAMS Park by spelling out "Welcome to Hell" at one end of the stadium and it definitely was for Onana.
"We were on top twice and had far too many chances to close out the game but we weren't clinical enough," Fernandes said.
The game for United was a virtual repeat of their Champions League group clash with Copenhagen in which they gave away a commanding lead. The end-to-end match saw 17 shots for United and 16 for Galatasaray, many in the dying minutes as both sides pushed for victory.
Fernandes had a good chance to score the winner but his 85th-minute effort struck the post.
(Reporting by Lori Ewing, editing by Ed Osmond)
