Wednesday’s wild, error-filled match saw Manchester United come back from down twice to defeat Sheffield United 4-2 at Old Trafford.
After going four games without gaining all three points, the Reds were hoping to get back on track in the league. However, they did not have the best start as Jayden Bogle grabbed the ball far up the field and put the visitors ahead.
As the teams moved back to their dressing rooms at halftime, Harry Maguire promptly equalized the score with a brilliantly weighted glancing header after an Alejandro Garnacho cross.
The Blades took the lead again in the second half, this time with a strong close-range Ben Brereton Diaz finish. It was a similar story there.
FIRST HALF – MAGUIRE LEVELS IT
Ten Hag’s men got to work straight from the off, working the ball towards the edge of the box within the first minute, from where Diogo Dalot found an opening to shoot. It troubled Blades goalkeeper Wes Foderingham enough to tip it wide, a smart decision that almost certainly saved his side an early setback.
That early opportunity set the tone for the opening moments of the game. The Reds dominated the possession, maintaining control against the visitors’ deep, tight-knit defensive unit.
Casemiro, once again operating in an unfamiliar center-back position due to injuries, looked a likely outlet, twice muscling his way to the ball first from corners but finding it difficult to make clean contact on each occasion.
Midway through the half, it was time to go more direct. Garnacho took the initiative, dangerously driving into the box, feinting one way and the other. The Old Trafford crowd were eagerly awaiting the ripple of the net but the Argentina international had allowed Foderingham too long to adjust his feet, meaning he was able to get in front of the resulting shot.
However, the price for not capitalizing on our early pressure was paid just past the half-hour mark. Andre Onana played an uncharacteristically short pass to Dalot and a grateful Jayden Bogle rushed forward to intercept, before slotting home a finish inside the near post.
The Reds found a reply under 10 minutes later when Garnacho collected a Fernandes free-kick on the left flank. He swiveled and sent an inswinging cross back into the penalty area that was expertly glanced beyond Foderingham by Maguire, supplying a well-deserved equalizer before the break.
Garnacho almost provided the lead seconds later, with a close-range effort, but it was kept out well with a reactive save by the outstanding Foderingham.
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SECOND HALF – BRUNO TO THE FORE
The Blades once again set the tone for the half as Brereton Diaz pounced on a Ben Osborn cut-back yards from goal to score their second. The Reds still had work to do when they returned from the break.
Chaos broke out when Maguire was dragged down in the box at the hour mark. Dalot felt he had equalized when he scrambled the ball over the line, but upon closer scrutiny, it may have been an own goal. Referee Michael Salisbury sounded his whistle to award the penalty.
With a cool conversion, our dependable captain took over and resumed play on the spot, ending any further inquest.
There were 15 minutes left on the clock and our opponents were forced to venture further out of their own half with the threat of Premier League relegation breathing heavily down their neck.
Ten Hag’s men began to exploit the extra space they were being afforded and it would fall once more to Fernandes to give the Reds the lead for the first time on the night.
He received a short pass from midfield partner Kobbie Mainoo and found he was being willed to shoot. He took the invitation without a second thought, thundering a left-foot shot beyond the grasp of Foderingham.
Our Portuguese magnifico was not done yet.
In the final five minutes of normal time, he received the ball inside the box, before playing a drilled pass across the face of goal towards Hojlund in the middle, who poked home assuredly, ensuring the three points were secured.
There was a 250th Academy debutant to celebrate towards the end, when Ethan Wheatley came on, and the teenager was almost set up by Fernandes in the lengthy period of stoppage time.
Man United vs Sheffield United MATCH DETAILS
- United: Onana; Dalot, Casemiro, Maguire, Wan-Bissaka; Mainoo (Amrabat 90+1), Eriksen (McTominay 64); Antony (Amad 55), Fernandes (c), Garnacho; Hojlund (Wheatley 90+1).
- Unused substitutes: Bayindir, Amass, Ogunneye, Jackson, Forson.
- Goals: Maguire 42, Fernandes 61 (pen), 81, Hojlund 85.
- Sheffield United: Foderingham; Colgate, Ahmedhodzic, Trusty; Bogle (Norwood 78), Hamer, Arblaster (c), Brooks (Souza 46), Osborn; Brereton Diaz, Archer (McAtee 62 (Osula 87)).
- Unused substitutes: Grbic, Larouci, Curtis, Hampson, Slimane.
- Bookings: Holgate 37.
Goals: Bogle 35, Brereton Diaz 50.
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