| Substitute Zlatan Ibrahimovic looks dejected after Basel beat the Red Devils with a last-minute goal |
Manchester United missed a chance to reach the Champions League knockout stages with a match to spare for the first time since 2014 after a conceding a late goal in a 1-0 defeat at Basel in a pulsating Group A clash on Wednesday.
Midfielder Michael Lang tucked in an 89th winner for Basel after Raoul Petretta found him with a pinpoint low cross at the far post, giving United’s stand-in keeper Sergio Romero no chance.
United are still top of the section with 12 points from five games, three ahead of second-placed Basel and third-placed CSKA Moscow, who boosted their hopes of reaching the last 16 with a 2-0 home win over Benfica earlier in the day.
United hit the woodwork twice as they controlled the first half while Basel dominated after the break and missed a string of chances before Lang sent the fervent home crowd into raptures.
Results from the Champions League on Wednesday:
FC Basel 1
Man United 0
CSKA Moscow 2
Benfica 0
PSG 7
Celtic 1
Anderlecht 1
Bayern Munich 2
FK Qarabag 0
Chelsea 4
Atletico Madrid 2
Roma 0
Juventus 0
Barcelona 0
Sporting Lisbon 3
Olympiacos 1