Report: Manchester United need a late attacking spark to beat Leeds 2-0

Late goals from Marcus Rahsford and Alejandro Garnacho were enough for Manchester United to take home three needed points away from Leeds United.

Erik ten Hag brought through the rotation, as Harry Maguire, Tyrell Malacia and Jadon Sancho were all brought back into the starting XI.

With Manchester United facing Barcelona in the first leg of their Europa League round of 32 tie on Thursday, including the three players is expected to give others in the squad rest. Despite this,  Lisandro Martínez’s exclusion from the line-up surprised many United fans, considering his first-leg suspension in the European tie.  

The opening 20 minutes were fiery — tackles flying in — emphasised the intense rivalry between both sides, as did the two yellow cards that were issued. 

The game then entered a start-stop nature, with both sides trying to sustain some pressure but failing at each attempt. But the pace picked up as the chants started following, both jestful and disgraceful. 

Maguire’s lackadaisical approach on the ball was the intention that Jack Harrison and Leeds needed to push on. 

Crysencio Summerville’s opportunity from point-blank range failed to force the ball home. The Dutch winger and his wing partner in crime, Wilfried Gnonto, kept United full-backs penned back in the first half. 

But the Reds had a response of their own. A mistake by Wober allows Fernandes to break free on goal entirely alone. A stutter and a wait didn’t do much as Illan Meslier stayed strong and pulled off an impressive close-range save.

The relentless pace that the first half ended in continued into the second. The hosts were aggressive in their pressing and looked to capitalise on the visitors’ half-hearted approach to the resumption of the game.

The chances came flurrying for Leeds. Summerville, McKennie, Harrison, and Ayling all had their own individual chances at David de Gea’s goal.

Ten Hag said in his presser before the game that United had a proactive team that Jadon Sancho could benefit from, “I think we now have a team who can dictate games and play more in an opponent’s half, and he likes that,” but as the basketball-like tempo to the game did not benefit Sanhco at all. 

Read More: Erik ten Hag explains change at Man United that will benefit Jadon Sancho

Ten Hag’s double change in the 61st minute, with Jadon Sancho and Tyrell Malacia departing for the Argentine duo of Lisandro Martínez and Alejandro Garnacho —  had an immediate impact.

Garnacho was able to work his man and pull it across the edge of the box for Dalot’s effort smack off the upright. 

Marcus Rashford, United’s inform man, was quiet for much of the match, but as he has proven this season — you can only contain for so long. 

And despite Leeds’ honest attempts to keep one of Europe’s most uncontainable forwards, he was there to poach and head home Luke Shaw’s cross. 

Rashford’s goal injected life into a flat United side, and as Wout Weghorst played through Garnacho, the teenager, much criticised midweek, made sure those criticism were nothing permanent as he lashed a finish past Meslier’s near post. 

United were in high-octane, and the goal-scoring juices were flowing — as they scored another two — they were disallowed by VAR. 

The result was in the bag, which was more flattering than the performance showed.