Football news - Alexis Sanchez scores late Manchester United winner to ease strain on Jose Mourinho
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ByEurosport
Updated 06/10/2018 at 21:43 GMT
Premier League, Old Trafford - Manchester United 3 (Mata 70', Martial 76', Sanchez 90') Newcastle United 2 (Kenedy 7', Muto 10')
Alexis Sanchez of Manchester United celebrates after scoring his team's third goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Newcastle United at Old Trafford on October 6, 2018 in Manchester, United Kingdom.
Image credit: Getty Images
Alexis Sanchez scored a dramatic late, late winner as Manchester United came from two goals behind to complete a thrilling 3-2 victory over Newcastle United at Old Trafford.
Amid speculation that Jose Mourinho is set to be sacked by the board this weekend, United made a horrific start as goals from Kenedy on seven minutes and Yoshinori Muto three minutes later put the visitors two goals clear.
After witnessing one of the worst first-half performances at Old Trafford in recent history Mourinho changed to a back-three at the break, with Paul Pogba placed at the heart of defence. And the response was immediate.
The hosts spurned a couple of great chances before Juan Mata netted a beautiful free-kick on 70 minutes and Anthony Martial levelled matters on 76 minutes after a lovely move involving Pogba.
With the clock ticking down, substitute Sanchez made the winning contribution as he nodded home from Ashley Young's cross in the final minute of normal time to seal a dramatic three points for United - and perhaps save the job of their manager.
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Manchester United's Chilean striker Alexis Sanchez celebrates after scoring the team's third goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Newcastle at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on October 6, 201
Image credit: Getty Images
TALKING POINT
Mourinho inspires a memorable comeback.
Wow, where to start with a talking point. Football journalists everywhere were writing their obituary to Mourinho as Manchester United manager at the half-time break. His team was hopeless, the Portuguese looked like a beaten man. But by now we should know better - there is always fight in Mourinho.
He delivered the team-talk of his life and his team delivered. Any argument that the players don't want to play for the 55-year-old was rendered void, as United produced a stirring comeback. The last 20 minutes was almost like a tribute to Sir Alex Ferguson and how his teams used to play here. Various reports suggest Mourinho would be sacked post-match, no matter the result. It would take a very brave person to fire him after this.
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Manchester United's Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho gestures during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Newcastle at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on October 6, 2018.
Image credit: Getty Images
PLAYER RATINGS
Man Utd: De Gea 6, Shaw 6, Bailly 4, Smalling 5, Young 6, McTominay 4, Pogba 8, Matic 5, Rashford 5, Martial 7, Lukaku 7. Subs: Sanchez 8, Mata 8, Fellaini 7.
Newcastle Utd: Dubravka 7, Manquillo 6, Lascelles 6, Fernandez 6, Yedlin 7, Ritchie 7, Shelvey 8, Diame 7, Kenedy 8, Perez 7, Muto 8. Subs: Murphy 5, Joselu N/A, Atsu 5
MAN OF THE MATCH
Paul Pogba (Manchester United): Eyebrows were raised when the Frenchman was placed into a centre-half role at the break - has Mourinho finally lost it? But what a masterclass Pogba delivered from defence. He urged his team forward from the back with nice and slick, fast passing in a performance which suggests he has kissed and made up with his manager.
KEY MOMENTS
7' - GOAL! Man Utd 0-1 Newcastle: OH MY! Newcastle are ahead! More misery for Mourinho; sheer ecstasy for the travelling supporters. It is too easy for the visitors. It comes from a throw-in and ends with Kenedy sticking the ball into the back of the net after a through-ball from Perez.
10' - GOAL! Man Utd 0-2 Newcastle: IT'S TWO! Muto with the goal! This is unbelievable! There is absolutely no pressure on Shelvey who crosses into the box, finding Muto. He is allowed to turn and drills a venomous shot into the corner.
40' - PENALTY APPEAL! McTominay is really struggling at centre-back and he commits a needless foul in the channel. Shelvey curls it into the box, it strikes the arm of Young and goes behind. Anthony Taylor bizarrely awards United a goal-kick, but if it isn't a penalty then it is certainly a corner!
55' - OVER! Rashford should do better - and Mourinho's face says it all; he is livid. Pogba arches in a cross, it's pin-point for Rashford but his glancing header hits the stands.
70' - GOAL! Man United 1-2 Newcastle: GAME ON! Mata curls a splendid free-kick over an ineffective wall and past Dubravka at his near post.
76' - GOAL! Man United 2-2 Newcastle: IT'S LEVEL! Will the real Manchester United please stand up? This is more like it from Mourinho's men. Pogba and Martial combine on the edge of the box with the latter striking a low shot which creeps past Dubravka at his near post.
90' - GOAAAAALLLLLL! Man United 3-2 Newcastle ALEXIS SANCHEZ! It had to be him! Young swings in a teasing cross and the Chilean rises like a salmon to net a bullet header!
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Manchester United's Chilean striker Alexis Sanchez (R) celebrates with Manchester United's Belgian midfielder Marouane Fellaini after scoring the team's third goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Newcastle at
Image credit: Getty Images
KEY STATS
- No side have lost more Premier League games against a specific opponent when scoring first than Newcastle have vs Man Utd (level with Southampton v Man Utd and Sunderland v Chelsea).
- Man United have won seven Premier League games when trailing by two+ goals at half-time - at least four more than any other team in the competition.
- Under Jose Mourinho, Paul Pogba has been directly involved in more Premier League goals for Man Utd than any other player (13 goals, 16 assists).
- Since his Premier League debut in August 2011, Juan Mata has scored more direct free-kick goals than any other player in the competition.
- Manchester United conceded two goals in the opening 10 minutes of a Premier League game at Old Trafford for the very first time.
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