Man Utd on brink of Champions League exit after Copenhagen collapse
Rasmus Hojlund looked to have come back to haunt his former club by scoring twice inside half an hour. But Rashford's sending-off swung the destiny of the match and possibly sealed United's fate with a third defeat in four games in Group A.
Mohamed Elyounoussi and Diogo Goncalves from the penalty spot levelled for Copenhagen before half-time. Bruno Fernandes' spot-kick briefly put United back in front, but two goals in the final seven minutes from Lukas Lerager and 17-year-old Roony Bardghji handed Copenhagen their first Champions League win since 2016.
United sink to the bottom of the group, one point behind Galatasaray and Copenhagen, with two games left to play. The Red Devils travel to Galatasaray in three weeks' time before hosting runaway group winners Bayern Munich.
Defeat will again ramp up the pressure on United boss Erik ten Hag as a disastrous start to the season in both the Premier and Champions League goes on. But the Dutchman will reflect on what might have been but for Rashford's dismissal after an excellent opening half an hour.
Copenhagen boss Jacob Neestrup claimed United would be met with an atmosphere "100 times" more intense than his side faced at Old Trafford two weeks ago. But the locals were quickly quietened by one of their own inside three minutes.
Hojlund is still to score his first Premier League goal since a £64 million move from Atalanta but is now the joint top scorer in the Champions League this season with five in four games.
He could not miss after being picked out by Scott McTominay at the back post for a tap in after a fine team move to open the scoring. Hojlund was again in the right place for a simple finish to make it 2-0 after Kamil Grabara parried Alejandro Garnacho's initial effort.
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