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Manchester United pulled off a 2-0 away win at Brighton and Hove Albion to finish what has been a awful Premier league marketing campaign on a excessive be aware.
Of their remaining Premier League match of the season, Man United had been out for revenge towards Brighton, having embarrassingly misplaced their house fixture 3-1 again in September. With little else to play for, redemption can be the primary motivation for achievement on the day.
Whereas United dominated possession through the opening minutes, it was the identical taking part in model as common, with Erik ten Hag’s facet passing round in their very own half whereas doing little to construct an assault.
Within the fifth minute, Brighton received a nook. Adam Webster took the primary shot of the match, heading the ball excessive for a objective kick.
Kobbie Mainoo made a steely problem on Joao Pedro to win possession in Brighton’s half. This allowed Bruno Fernandes to get a threatening shot off that the goalkeeper caught. A second later, United followers held their breath as Mainoo fell to the bottom clutching his knee, nonetheless, they had been relieved as he managed to recuperate and proceed taking part in.
Within the thirteenth minute, the house staff got here near scoring when Valentin Barco thumped in a shot from shut vary. It took a chic leg save from Onana to disclaim the Argentine and hold the scores degree, nonetheless, Ten Hag can be alarmed at how simply his defence was penetrated.
25 minutes in, United lastly received their first threatening assault underway as they broke away on the counter. Fernandes charged upfield and slotted a by ball to Scott McTominay on the correct, who fluffed his traces by skying his shot.
Quickly after, United had been again underneath strain from a resilient Brighton assault. Off yet one more nook, Webster drove in a header that compelled a last-ditch save from Onana to be able to hold the scores degree.
Pedro got here near scoring for the house facet 32 minutes in when he blazed previous Lisandro Martinez and put a shot previous Onana, just for the ball to skid previous the far submit.
Because the half drew to a detailed, United began to use strain to the house facet. Garnacho beat Jakub Moder to seek out his manner into the field and take a low shot, forcing a save from Jason Steele. Fernandes overhit the next nook, sending the ball out for a objective kick.
With one minute of added time, Fernandes acquired a yellow card following a harmful lunge at Simon Adingra.
Total, it was one other underwhelming half from United, with Ten Hag’s staff displaying little risk towards the house staff.
Proper from the restart, it was Brighton who gave the impression to be the hungrier staff as Pedro reduce into the field and handed to Gross, who discovered Barco within the centre. Barco’s shot breezed previous Onana, with Casemiro clearing the ball off the objective line to maintain the scores degree. It gave the impression to be solely a matter of time till Brighton discovered an opener.
Whereas United charged again upfield to win a nook, Fernandes took yet one more ineffective cross, permitting Brighton to simply clear the hazard.
On the hour mark, Fernandes made manner for Rasmus Hojlund, whereas Martinez’s cameo after getting back from damage ended as he got here off for Jonny Evans.
Within the 69th minute, Raphael Varane got here on to interchange Sofyan Amrabat in what could possibly be his remaining look in a United shirt. He’d hope to impress to be able to safe his place in subsequent Saturday’s FA Cup remaining.
With 20 minutes to go, Alejandro Garnacho took a fiery shot from the sting of the field that struck Webster within the face, with the defender making his option to the sidelines to get well.
Within the 73rd minute, Diogo Dalot made his manner into Brighton’s remaining third, catching the defence off guard.
Casemiro thumped a protracted ball towards Hojlund, with the ball going previous the striker to Dalot’s toes. Dalot simply slotted the ball to the close to submit, grabbing an unlikely lead for a struggling United.
Marcus Rashford got here on to interchange Amad, whereas a drained Mainoo made manner for Christian Eriksen.
The next minutes had been bleak, with United struggling to win the midfield battle and type any goalscoring alternatives. With an eighth-placed end all however assured, United really appeared like a staff with nothing to play for.
Abruptly, within the 86th minute, the sport sparked to life but once more as Hojlund doubled United’s lead. With some particular person brilliance, Hojlund dribbled previous Igor and drifted proper the place he slotted a low shot previous the Brighton keeper into the far left nook to all however seal United’s victory.
Simply as United received a nook, six minutes of added time had been introduced. Whereas properly struck, Eriksen’s cross was headed out of hazard.
The complete time whistle blew on what was a candy ending to what has been a difficult Premier League marketing campaign for United. CLearly, Ten Hag’s staff will wish to carry their profitable momentum into the FA Cup remaining to be able to come away with some silverware following a disappointing season.
Beginning XI: Onana, Amrabat, Martinez, Fernandes, Amad, Garnacho, Casemiro, Dalot, Wan-Bissaka, Mainoo, McTominay
Subs: Evans, Hojlund, Varane, Rashford, Eriksen
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