Manchester United came back from two goals down to score a point against Leeds United at Old Trafford.
Referee: Simon Hooper
Jadon Sancho was the hero of the moment for Manchester United as the Red Devils went from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with managerless Leeds United at Old Trafford in the Premier League.
Fresh off Jesse Marsch’s red card, Michael Skubala’s Whites stunned the Theater of Dreams with a 55th-minute goal from Wilfried Gnont and an own goal from Raphael Varane early in the second half.
However, Marcus Rashford reduced the home side’s deficit before Sancho, making his first Premier League appearance since October, forced some of the spoils in a thrilling game.
Many have wondered how Man United would fare without Casemiro, who is serving a suspension after being shown red against Crystal Palace, and the Red Devils’ fears were realized in just 55 seconds.
The fans were still in their place when Pascal Struijk issued a solid but fair challenge to Bruno Fernandes and the ball popped gracefully for Gnonto to play a one-two with Patrick Bamford.
Despite being surrounded by a sea of red shirts, a seething Gnonto punched into the bottom corner of the edge of the box to leave the Old Trafford crowd in silence.
In doing so, Gnonto scored the second fastest goal against Man United at Old Trafford in the Premier League, just behind Edin Dzeko’s goal for Manchester City after 43 seconds in March 2014.
The Whites were in dreamland but were forced to make a substitution after eight minutes when Luis Sinisterra came on for Crysencia Summerville.
Sinisterra’s early withdrawal did little to hurt Leeds’ momentum as Erik ten Hag’s side simply couldn’t gain a foothold in the game and were grateful to David de Gea to return home to Struijk with 12 minutes to play.
However, Struijk would be Leeds’ next defeat in the 23rd minute when he came on as a substitute with a concussion after feeling the full force of Rashford’s effort as Man United began to tighten the screws.
Alejandro Garnacho was clearly destined to equalize in the 27th minute after passing Illan Meslier, but Maximilian Wober produced a brilliant turn to clear the teenager’s effort from the line.
As the teams lined up for the second 45, Rashford moved to the favorite left and Garnacho to the right, but the second half started much the same as the first.
The Leeds players knocked Garnach down in their own half in the 48th minute and the ball found its way to Summerville, who cut inside the box and deflected Varana into the net.
The Ten Hag featured both Facundo Pellistri and Sancho in a desperate bid to spark a comeback, with the former involved in a Man United attack that finally paid off a minute into the game.
Picking up the ball on the right side of the box early on, Pellistri passed to Diogo Dalot for the right-back to send a cross into the box for the first time, and Rashford rose to direct a shot into the corner farthest. for his 20th goal of the season.
Leeds rocked the frame three minutes later with a free kick from Brenden Aaronson in an attempt to restore their two-goal lead, but in the 70th minute Sancho marked his return to the Premier League with a calculated strike that matched Luke Shaw well. . on the left. before advancing up to score the equalizer in the middle of the goal.
The Red Devils had a wonderful chance for the three points in the 87th minute, but Rashford missed his attempt after a free-kick from Fernandes and there were no more goals in five minutes of stoppage time.
Ten Haga’s men remain third in the table after missing out on a draw with Manchester City, while Leeds moved West Ham United to 16th place with both sides due to resume action immediately at Elland Road on Sunday.
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