LEEDS, United Kingdom —
Manchester United
survived blowing another half-time lead to open up a four-point advantage in
the race for a top-four finish in the Premier League with a thrilling 4–2 win
at relegation-threatened Leeds.
اضافة اعلان
Harry Maguire responded to questions over
his status as captain of the Red Devils by opening the scoring on 34 minutes
before Bruno Fernandes added a second on the stroke of half-time.
Lost leads have been a feature of
Ralf Rangnick's interim spell in charge and United were punished by another slow
start to a second half as Rodrigo's fortunate cross and substitute Raphinha
brought Leeds level.
However, United this time bounced back to
find a winner when Fred smashed in 20 minutes from time before
Anthony Elanga sealed the points late on.
This was United's first league visit to
Elland Road in front of a capacity crowd in 19 years and the visitors were met
with a hostile atmosphere and a tricky pitch due to incessant rain.
Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa decribed keeping
his club in the top-flight as "an obligation" this week but took the
bold decision to drop top scorer Raphinha to the bench after subbing the
Brazilian at half-time in last week's 3-0 defeat at Everton.
Another ragged defensive display leaves
Bielsa's men still just five points above the relegation zone and with a
daunting trip to Liverpool to come in midweek.
Maguire responds
Stories that
Cristiano Ronaldo was set to
replace Maguire as United captain for the rest of the season were dismissed as
"nonsense" by Rangnick this week.
Ronaldo ended his worst goal drought for 13
years in midweek against Brighton and missed a glorious chance to open the
scoring when Ilan Meslier spread himself brilliantly to deny the Portuguese a
tap in from point-blank range.
Instead it was Maguire who broke the
deadlock and United's run of failing to score from a corner for over a year
with a powerful header from Luke Shaw's delivery.
Leeds have conceded 11 goals in their two
visits to
Old Trafford in the past two seasons and their wide-open style was
allowing United to slice through with ease on the counter-attack once more.
Five minutes into time added on at the end
of the first half for a head injury to Robin Koch, the visitors doubled their
lead when Jadon Sancho's inviting cross found Fernandes unmarked to head down
past Meslier.
United had blown a half-time lead in three
of their last four games, but on each occasion, it had been a single-goal
advantage.
Bielsa swallowed his pride at the break to
introduce Raphinha and Leeds were level within nine minutes of the restart
thanks to two goals in 60 seconds.
Firstly Rodrigo's cross flew over the head
of
David De Gea into the far corner.
With the crowd still on their feet, Leeds
scored again when Adam Forshaw's strong challenge on Bruno Fernandes was not penalized
and Daniel James' cross was swept home by Raphinha at the back post.
As conditions continued to worsen under a
torrential downpour, Rangnick turned to his bench in what appeared a bid to
tighten up his midfield with the introduction of Fred for Paul Pogba.
But it was the Brazilian who struck the
winner as a wild game had another swing when he drilled home Sancho's pass at
the near post.
Another of Rangnick's substitutes then
ensured there would not be a second Leeds comeback with a calm finish after
Fernandes had robbed
Pascal Struijk on the edge of his own box.
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