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'Worst I've seen': Youngster crucified over 'shocking' moment

Andrew Reid

Manchester United's shock Europa League loss to Kazakhstani footballing minnows Astana was summed up by a horror moment for youngster Tahith Chong.

Kazakh champions Astana fought back to surprise a youthful Manchester United 2-1.

Captain Jesse Lingard opened the scoring for the visitors, who had already reached the last 32, before Dmitri Shomko equalised for the home side.

Di'Shon Bernard, 19, then put through his own goal to hand Astana victory over a United side whose average age was just 22.

It was one of those youngsters Chong, who had a moment he will want to forget as soon as possible.

Unfortunately for the 19-year-old Dutchman, the reaction to his open goal miss on social media means he'll have a hard time living it down.

Luke Shaw had done all the hard work after a neat one-two pass got him in behind the Astana backline.

The left back cut inside and delivered a teasing cross that left Astana's keeper stranded and the goal at Chong's mercy.

With no defenders around him or in front of him, Chong had time to control the ball and stroke it into the back of the empty net.

However, he inexplicably decided to hit the shot first time, watching in horror as the woeful attempt sailed way over the top of the goal.

Despite the ugly nature of the defeat, Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said there were plenty of positives to take out of it.

‘At times we were excellent’

Solskjaer said some of the youngsters on show put their hands up to feature against Alkmaar in the final round of group matches on December 12.

"At times we were excellent but there were spells when we let them push us back. That cost us in the end," he said.

"These boys have learnt a lot and have given me food for thought. I'm very pleased with many of them."

Pictured here, Tahith Chong was horrified by his open goal miss for Manchester United.
Tahith Chong's match was summed up by a horror miss. Pic: Optus Sport

Shomko, meanwhile, told UEFA.com that the result will live in his memory.

"I will be telling my grandchildren, 'you know guys a while ago I scored against Manchester United'. It does not matter who scored, really. The most important thing is that we won," he said.

Solskjaer made 11 changes from Sunday's draw with Sheffield United by handing senior debuts to teenagers Ethan Laird, Dylan Levitt and Bernard as well as naming cancer survivor Max Taylor on the bench.

United opened the scoring after 10 minutes as Lingard's low show from outside the box beat Nenad Eric to his right.

Shomko responded after 55 minutes as his effort from inside the box glanced past Lee Grant in the United goal.

The three points, Astana's first of the European campaign, were secured when Bernard deflected an Antonio Rukavina cross past 36-year-old Grant seven minutes later.

Astana were already out of contention for the knockout stages ahead of the round five fixture in Group L.

With AFP