Manchester United likes to win, but fashionably late! After a spectacular performance at Villa Park, Manchester United notched up four consecutive victories, overshadowing Scott McTominay’s match-winner by four minutes each time!
In Short
Manchester United’s early Goal
Rasmus Hojlund had given Manchester United the lead with a brilliant finish after 17 minutes, but Douglas Luiz equalized amidst pressure from the hosts in the second half.
What a brilliant goal from our striker pic.twitter.com/iHl3pyKk7y
— Gift Boniface 𓃵 🇳🇬 (@giftbenofficial) February 11, 2024
However, the Reds surged ahead again, sealing the deal with McTominay’s bullet header in the dying embers of the competition. The midfielder grabbed three well-earned points at Villa Park, demonstrating once more his ability to step up when United needed him.
At the start of the season, no one could have bet against Scott McTominay being Manchester United’s top scorer, but the homegrown midfielder has made a career out of surprising people, once again emerging as the unexpected hero in a thrilling victory at Villa Park.
Rasmus Hojlund had put Manchester United ahead early in the fifth league game in a row, giving them an ideal start in one of their favorite foreign arenas, but Villa rallied back, maintaining their dominance throughout the first half and most of the second.
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Goalkeeper Rafael Varane was beaming broadly as he celebrated with the supporters after Manchester United had tied the score through Douglas Luiz following a number of fortuitous saves and some outstanding defensive stops by André Onana.
It seemed like Villa was poised to take the lead and become the most likely victors, but United resiliently defended, with McTominay putting the disappointed home supporters to rest by converting Diogo Dalot’s cross into a goal. Somehow, United has left West Midlands with yet another late win, climbing back into the top four and dimming hopes of a Champions League return. And it all depends on McTominay.
Goalkeeper and Defense
André Onana (7/10): John McGinn made two excellent saves and thwarted Ollie Watkins’ attempts on goal. The kicking was suspect but no disasters. Getting better every week.
Diogo Dalot (7/10): Excellent defensively. Timed two slides perfectly and showed some clever jockeying. Good understanding with Garnacho too.
Rafael Varane (7/10): Made several crucial blocks and minimized the damage from Villa’s second-half onslaught.
Harry Maguire (6/10): Solid on the ball and a real handful on set-pieces, his header set up Hojlund’s goal. Less effective when dealing with Villa’s attacks.
Luke Shaw (6/10): Solid defensively, didn’t contribute much in attacking sense.
Midfield
Kobi Mainu (5/10): Hit and miss. Saw a lot of his passes cut out and struggled physically to impose himself.
Casemiro (7/10): Played very well in the heart of United’s midfield, both through passing and executing the team’s best moves.
Bruno Fernandes (4/10): His passing was careless and rushed, and he was too eager to take control. Couldn’t silence the Villa fans throughout the game.
Attack
Alejandro Garnacho (8/10): Looked United’s most dangerous player and the most likely source of a winner.
Rasmus Hojlund (6/10): Showed promise with a goal in five consecutive league games but then faded, leaving little to remember after that.
Marcus Rashford (6/10): Had several promising moments but made the wrong decision every time.
Substitutes and Manager: Victor Lindelof (4/10): Inconsistent, and he’s getting away with it. Not used to being deployed at left-back and it showed.
Scott McTominay (7/10): Does it again. Lethal in the box, landing his solitary chance with a bullet header.
Sofian Amrabat (N/A): Brought on in extra time.
Johnny Evans (N/A): Brought on in extra time.
Eric ten Hag (7/10): Will be frustrated at how the team slowed down after taking the lead but ultimately his substitutes won the game. And now the race for the top four continues.
