ATHENS, (Reuters) – Manchester United’s dwindling hopes of lifting a trophy this season are dangling by a thread after they produced an abject display to lose 2-0 at Olympiakos Piraeus in a Champions League last-16 first leg yesterday.
Alejandro Dominguez opened the scoring with a clever first-half flick and Arsenal loanee Joel Campbell added a sublime second goal to leave United facing a huge task to overturn the deficit in the return match at Old Trafford on March 19.
“That’s the worst we’ve played in Europe. We didn’t deserve to get anything,” manager David Moyes told reporters. “I’m surprised, I didn’t see that level of performance coming.
“I take responsibility, we have to play better. The players are hurting.”
Defeat at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium represented yet another body blow in an inauspicious campaign for last season’s English Premier League title winners.
United are out of the FA Cup and the League Cup and trail Premier League leaders Chelsea by 15 points with 11 games left to play.
Moyes’s men looked sluggish and disjointed against an inexperienced Olympiakos side who are bidding to reach the quarter-finals for only the second time in their history.
It was the first time the Greeks had beaten United in five attempts.
“To beat a great side like United, the way we did, is something very special and I can’t hide the joy and pride I feel for my players,” said Olympiakos coach Michel.
“We picked the best moment to show Greek football is alive and kicking,” added the former Spain and Real Madrid striker.
Moyes opted to start with two wingers, Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young, but neither made an impact in a first half in which runaway the Greek league leaders displayed real energy and hunger.
ENTHUSIASTIC CROWD
After a cautious opening from both sides amid ear-splitting noise from an enthusiastic home crowd, the first chance fell to Olympiakos as Dominguez burst through the middle on a solo run only to be denied by a last-ditch tackle from Nemanja Vidic.
Midfielder Tom Cleverley registered United’s only effort of note in the first half with a 17th-minute half-volley that sailed high over the bar.
