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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 word.
Of their remaining Premier League match of the season, Man United had been out for revenge towards Brighton, having embarrassingly misplaced their residence 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 enjoying type as ordinary, 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 purpose 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 enjoying.
Within the thirteenth minute, the house crew 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 maintain 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 via ball to Scott McTominay on the correct, who fluffed his traces by skying his shot.
Quickly after, United had been again underneath stress from a resilient Brighton assault. Off yet one more nook, Webster drove in a header that pressured a last-ditch save from Onana to be able to maintain 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 stress to the house facet. Garnacho beat Jakub Moder to search out his approach into the field and take a low shot, forcing a save from Jason Steele. Fernandes overhit the following nook, sending the ball out for a purpose kick.
With one minute of added time, Fernandes acquired a yellow card following a harmful lunge at Simon Adingra.
General, it was one other underwhelming half from United, with Ten Hag’s crew displaying little menace towards the house crew.
Proper from the restart, it was Brighton who gave the impression to be the hungrier crew as Pedro minimize 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 purpose 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 approach for Rasmus Hojlund, whereas Martinez’s cameo after coming back from damage ended as he got here off for Jonny Evans.
Within the 69th minute, Raphael Varane got here on to switch Sofyan Amrabat in what might 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 approach to the sidelines to get better.
Within the 73rd minute, Diogo Dalot made his approach into Brighton’s remaining third, catching the defence off guard.
Casemiro thumped an extended 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 switch Amad, whereas a drained Mainoo made approach for Christian Eriksen.
The next minutes had been bleak, with United struggling to win the midfield battle and kind any goalscoring alternatives. With an eighth-placed end all however assured, United really regarded like a crew 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 nicely 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 crew 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, McTominaySubs: Evans, Hojlund, Varane, Rashford, Eriksen
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