THE pre-match Galatasaray tifo revealed their mascot, a snarling lion. In European football's lion pit, United could not tame it.
For the first time all season, the Reds drew when a win was essential. Their destiny in the Champions League is now out of their hands.
That dawned on Scott McTominay, on his haunches at full-time.
Some players expressed their appreciation to the intrepid supporters in the second tier, but this was as demoralising as a defeat.
Five games, wins, 12 goals scored and 14 conceded. This has been the most enthralling United group stage since 1998's group of Death' with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Brondby. The similarities end there.
For United remain at the foot of Group A. They have taken a paltry four points from their four games against Galatasaray and Copenhagen.
The Reds led in all four of them yet the pattern continued in Istanbul. For the second successive European away tie, they squandered a two-goal advantage.
United have dropped eight points from winning positions against the group's weakest teams.
Avoiding defeat ensures United are not definitively out of the competition after Bayern and Copenhagen drew 0-0 last night. This was another chaotic contest involving United. Facundo Pellistri had enough chances to net a hat-trick in barely five minutes. McTominay berated Pellistri for failing to pass. McTominay's shot went narrowly past the post. Bruno Fernandes clipped the outside of the post.
The most glaring chance fell again to Pellistri, so often so impactful off the bench. Rasmus Hojlund was removed with United 3-1 ahead, possibly out of superstition, given how United have lost whenever he has scored.
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