Fenerbahce 2 - 1 Manchester United: Wayne Rooney's historic goal counts for nothing as Manchester United are beaten

Posted Friday, November 04, 2016 by PA

Manchester United wilted on a hostile night in Turkey, with Wayne Rooney's historic 38th European goal counting for little as Fenerbahce's stunning strikes gave Jose Mourinho another headache.

The mightily-frustrating goalless draw at home to Burnley was followed by news that the Portuguese's behaviour towards the officials on Saturday would not only dent his wallet but see him banned from the touchline at Swansea this weekend.

Those issues were compounded on Thursday night as United failing to win a seventh straight European away match, with Fenerbahce deservedly winning 2-1 as the visitors failed to add to Rooney's late stunner.

The captain's strike saw him equal Ruud van Nistelrooy's record as United's all-time European top scorer, but it was too late to spur a comeback in a match that was just 65 seconds old when Moussa Sow scored with a superb overhead kick.

Fenerbahce's players, helping by the baying Sukru Saracoglu Stadium crowd, continued to make life uncomfortable for United, who lost world-record signing Paul Pogba after 30 minutes following a heavy challenge.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was fortunate that his altercation with Simon Kjaer was missed by officials as tempers frayed, with Jeremain Lens, on loan from Sunderland, adding to United's problems with a superb second-half free-kick.

Rooney's wondrous 89th-minute drive led to a frantic ending, but Fenerbahce held out to secure a memorable victory that sees them usurp United in the Group A qualification spots.