Manchester United fell to defeat in Eindhoven on their return to the Champions League on Tuesday night, and felt double the heartache after Luke Shaw suffered a suspected broken leg in the first half.
The returning Memphis Depay gave United the lead prior to half time, but a goal from Hector Moreno and a second half header from Luciano Narsingh gave the home side the points, on a night where United will have been wondering how they came away empty-handed.
Prior to kick off, it was seriously loud at the Philips Stadion. The home support were prepared to welcome back their former hero, but Memphis started menacingly. His pace - along with the speed of starting striker Anthony Martial and Ashley Young on the right side - gave United an extra early edge that we've not seen too often this season.
Depay nearly stole in within the first six minutes, but Shaw nearly carved open the PSV defence with a lung-busting run just after the 20 minute mark too. He was clattered in the area by a challenge from Moreno - who took the ball - but you could instantly tell something was seriously wrong.
It emerged during the 8-minute stoppage that the English left back had suffered an horrific broken leg, and the poor 20-year-old will now be out for a number of months. United looked visibly shaken by the incident in the minutes after, and PSV nearly took advantage of it.
However, the visitors took the lead after the returning hero conjured up a moment of brilliance. Played inside by Daley Blind - who had moved to left back in Shaw's absence - Memphis showed some excellent feet to dance through two defenders and slot home.
United had their tails up by this point, and captain for the night Chris Smalling put pressure on high up the pitch, threw out a step-over and nearly scored himself in the moments after the goal. But United's lead was short-lived. They conceded a corner, and Moreno - who was lucky to be on the pitch - headed towards goal. The ball deflected off Blind and dropped in past Ashley Young and David de Gea on the line.
espite the goal, United remained on top after the break. Memphis and Martial looked bright alongside each other up top and combined well for a sight of goal, but just prior to the hour they were caught by a beautiful counter attacking sucker punch. After being played down the left by Andres Guardado, Maxime Lestienne's pinpoint cross found Narsingh on the far post, and he headed home to give PSV the lead, against the run of play.
Juan Mata seemed uncharacteristically off the pace for most of the evening, even while heavily involved in United's attacking play, but his night was summed up shortly after the goal after he mis-controlled a beautiful pass from Bastian Schweinsteiger inside the six yard box.
United pushed an pushed - at times recklessly - but their efforts ultimately came to nothing. They'll return home counting the cost of defeat, and with their left back in their thoughts.
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