Manchester United held off a thrilling Leeds United comeback at a bubbling Elland Road to win a key match and keep their Premier League top-four hopes alive.
They provided a spectacle in front of supporters in the first meeting between the two old rivals at Elland Road since October 2003, played out in a rainstorm and a typically loud atmosphere.
After captain Harry Maguire headed in Luke Shaw’s corner and Bruno Fernandes did the same from Jadon Sancho’s cross just before half-time, Manchester United were in perfect control at the interval.
Leeds, on the other hand, staged a great comeback and were level with two goals inside a minute, first Rodrigo’s 53rd-minute cross that sneaked in behind goalie David de Gea, and then substitute Raphinha slid home a cross from Daniel James to send Elland Road into raptures.
With 20 minutes left, Manchester United gathered themselves, manager Ralf Rangnick made changes, and one of his subs reaped the benefits as Fred drove in at Illan Meslier’s near post following more good work by Sancho – despite Anthony Elanga being struck by objects thrown from the crowd during the celebrations.
Elanga composed himself to seal Manchester United’s victory with a clinical finish from Fernandes’ feed two minutes from time, for the full time score of 4-2.
Manchester United’s players appeared stunned by the turn of events that allowed Leeds, who had appeared deflated at half-time, to resurge and even threaten a victory that would have been sweetest of all for the home fans, who had made their dislike for the visitors clear before, during, and after the game.
Rangnick, on the other hand, deserves credit for the substitutions that helped Manchester United regain control, with Fred going on to put them back in ahead and another replacement, Elanga, snuffing out any chance Leeds had of a point with the fourth crucial goal.
Manchester United will believe they deserved to win the match throughout, but they were vulnerable at times and were rocked by the Leeds onslaught until Fred hushed the fans.
The Red Devils won for the second time in a week and currently lie fourth in the Premier League, four points behind Chelsea and four ahead of fifth-placed West Ham. However, they know they must keep winning, with Arsenal four points behind in sixth place and three games in hand.
