A 2-0 victory against Leeds United at Elland Road on Sunday kept the team’s Premier League title ambitions alive thanks to goals from Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho in the closing 10 minutes of play. For the best sports betting casinos of February 2023, make sure to have a look at CasinoDaddy’s pages!
Rashford’s opening goal for United in the 80th minute prevented Leeds from extending United’s winless streak to one in five games. Instead, Garnacho’s solo goal and Rashford’s spectacular header secured a late victory for Erik ten Hag’s team, keeping their hosts in danger of relegation at the wrong end of the table.
Rashford scores once more to keep Man United in the championship fight.
Manchester United may or may not still be competing for the Premier League championship, but without Rashford’s game-winning goal against Leeds, they would most likely be eliminated.
In a tense match at Elland Road, Rashford’s header in the 80th minute broke the tie after Luke Shaw had crossed Marcel Sabitzer’s long pass into the penalty box. Five minutes later, Garnacho scored on his own to seal the victory, but Rashford’s goal, his 13th in 15 games since the post-World Cup restart, was the game-winner.
United currently trail leaders Arsenal by five points after the victory, despite having played two more games than the Gunners. On Wednesday, Mikel Arteta’s club will play winners Manchester City for the first time this league season. Rashford’s goal has kept United’s chances alive even though they are currently the clear underdogs in the fight for the championship.
Ten Hag’s team had only won one of their previous four Premier League games coming into this encounter, thus it appeared like Old Trafford’s momentum was waning. They lost 3-2 at the Emirates after giving up a last-second winner to Arsenal and an injury-time equalizer to Crystal Palace before coming from behind to tie at home last Wednesday against Leeds after falling down 2-0.
If those lost points hadn’t occurred, United would now be in third place, praying that Arsenal and City would make a mistake. United may still dream thanks to their late victory at Elland Road since Arsenal and City still have two games remaining against one another; United has played both teams at home and away.
Leeds has occasionally been too soft to handle this season, which is a problem for any club trying to escape relegation. But now that Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie from the United States are anchoring their midfield, Leeds has the ideal foundation on which to start their fight for survival.
Adams’ hefty first-minute challenge on United’s Jadon Sancho, which was brutal but fair, not only enthused the Leeds supporters but also sent a clear message to his teammates that every 50-50 tackle in this game had to be won. Moments later, Tyrell Malacia was treated on the field after McKennie attempted a similar challenge on the United left-back.
Although neither tackle was particularly graceful, Leeds will need to replicate Adams and McKennie’s spirit of resistance going forward. Since the Leeds supporters are among the most vocal and demanding in the Premier League, it may be scary for rivals to play at Elland Road. The players and supporters must feed off one another in a relegation struggle, but Adams and McKennie already appear to understand this.
Key omissions reveal United’s lack of imagination
Due in large part to the unavailability of Casemiro and Christian Eriksen, this was one of Manchester United’s less remarkable performances of the year.
Due to the ankle ligament damage, he suffered against Reading in the FA Cup last month, Eriksen is a long-term absentee and is not anticipated to return until at least late April. While all was going on, Casemiro was serving the second game of a three-game domestic suspension after receiving a red card for fighting against Crystal Palace last week.
With most opponents, United could probably manage without either Casemiro or Eriksen in the middle of the field, but they are struggling without both of them. This season, Casemiro has been United’s finest player and their main force, while Eriksen has quietly dazzled with his inventiveness and command of the game’s tempo.
Sabitzer, a Bayern Munich loanee, has provided toughness and agility, but his pairing with Fred at Elland Road lacked the passion and flare that Casemiro and Eriksen have given to United.
Bruno Fernandes found it difficult to contribute against Leeds since the club lacked two such seasoned, elite midfielders. Although Fernandes is talented, this match felt like a throwback to last season, when the midfield lacked depth in too many areas. Fernandes needs better players around him.
There is good news for United in that Casemiro will be able to participate in the first leg of the Europa League playoff against Barcelona on Thursday, but there is bad news in that Eriksen won’t be there.
