Red Devils' manager slams team as Manchester United suffer a shock 0-2 defeat against Greek side Olympiakos in the first leg of their Last 16 tie
Man United's goalie David de Gea fails to stop Olympiakos from scoring at the Karaiskaki Stadium on Tuesday. Pic/AFP
Piraeus: Manchester United were shunted towards an unscheduled exit in the Champions League after crashing to a shock 2-0 defeat at Olympiakos in their Last 16 first-leg match on Tuesday.
Man United's goalie David de Gea fails to stop Olympiakos from scoring at the Karaiskaki Stadium on Tuesday. Pic/AFP
Goals from Alejandro Dominguez and Arsenal loanee Joel Campbell gave Olympiakos victory at an ecstatic Karaiskakis Stadium, to leave the Greek champions on the brink of the Last Eight for the first time since 1999.
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It was the first time United had ever lost to a Greek team. Previously unbeaten in the group phase, David Moyes' side conceded defeat with a whimper on a chastening night in the Athenian port of Piraeus, failing to muster a single shot on target.
Considering the way both sides were playing, the hosts' 38th-minute opener came as little surprise. Campbell's cross from the right was only partially cleared and although Giannis Maniatis' low shot appeared to be heading straight at United goalkeeper David de Gea, Dominguez's opportunistic flick sent the ball skidding into the opposite corner.
Olympiakos were the first side to threaten in the second half, with Perez working De Gea from 20 yards. Despite United's need, the English champions were unable to establish a foothold in the opposition's half and in the 55th minute they found themselves 0-2 down.
It was a goal that shone with the invention that United had been missing, as Campbell picked up the ball on the right, insouciantly nutmegged Michael Carrick, and arced a 25-yard shot into the bottom-left corner with his left foot.
Our worst game: Moyes
"It's the worst we've played in Europe, that's for sure," said Moyes. "It was a really poor performance. We never really got going from the start and we didn't deserve anything because of the way we played.
I take responsibility. It's my team. We didn't play well tonight and we have to play better, but we know that we can do. "The one good thing is that there's still a second game to come."
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