Aston Villa 1-2 Manchester United - Scott McTominay snatches dramatic late winner in Premier League clash
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Updated 11/02/2024 at 21:03 GMT
It was always hoped that Aston Villa hosting Manchester United would deliver an enthralling Premier League encounter at Villa Park on Sunday evening, and so it proved. United took the lead through Rasmus Hojlund, only for Douglas Luiz to equalise in the second half as Villa looked set to grab a point. But Scott McTominay was on target late on to snatch a dramatic late winner for the visitors.
Scott McTominay of Manchester United celebrates scoring his side's second goal during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Manchester United at Villa Park
Image credit: Getty Images
Manchester United moved to within six points of the top four of the Premier League on Sunday with a late goal to secure victory at Villa Park.
Once again Scott McTominay was United’s saviour with a late goal, as he planted a firm header past Emiliano Martinez with four minutes to go.
Aston Villa unsettled the visitors with a high energy performance, with Jacob Ramsey to the fore in the first half. Rasmus Hojlund put United ahead after 17 minutes, but the home side created the better openings throughout.
Midway through the second half Villa deservedly drew level as Douglas Luiz poked in a loose ball after a corner. The game seemed to be petering out into a draw until McTominay intervened to win it late for United.
Erik ten Hag’s team stay in sixth place but are now five points behind Aston Villa and six behind Tottenham in the race for the Champions League places.
Talking Point - Can United still qualify for the Champions League?
It was a huge game today and both sides knew it. Had Villa won it they’d have been 11 clear of United; with the gap now cut to five, and Spurs six ahead, the race is on with 14 games to go.
In truth it was a patchy performance from United, but they found one moment of quality late on to deliver a huge momentum swing in the battle for the European places. Things are finally starting to happen for Erik ten Hag’s team this season, as key players return and the bulk of his best eleven are available.
There’s still a considerable chunk of season to go, and United have seen a number of false dawns in the last ten years. Yet with Hojlund scoring, Marcus Rashford fully engaged and academy players Kobbie Mainoo, Alejandro Garnacho and Scott McTominay underpinning this upswing in form, things look a whole lot brighter for United than they did before Christmas.
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Rasmus Hojlund and Scott McTominay
Image credit: Getty Images
Player of the Match – Andre Onana (Manchester United)
After a bucket of criticism for his performances earlier this season, Onana deserves credit for a match-saving turn for his team. He made a number of saves at crucial junctures in the game when it looked like United might wilt, which laid the platform for United to steal the game.
Player Ratings
Aston Villa: Martinez 6; Cash 5, Diego Carlos 6, Lenglet 6, Moreno 5; McGinn 7, Kamara 6, Douglas Luiz 7; Ramsey 7, Bailey 7, Watkins 6. Subs: Tielemans 6, Digne 6, Diaby 7, Zaniolo 6
Manchester United: Onana 8; Dalot 7, Shaw 6, Varane 6, Maguire 7; Mainoo 7, Casemiro 6, Fernandes 6; Rashford 6, Hojlund 7, Garnacho 7. Subs: Evans 6, Lindelof 5, Amrabat 6, McTominay 7
Match Highlights
17' GOAL! ASTON VILLA 0 MANCHESTER UNITED 1 (HOJLUND 17) It's him again! Fernandes lofts the corner to the back post, where Maguire towers over Kamara to win the header. The ball drops to Hojlund, unmarked and onside on the edge of the six yard box, and he volleys it through the legs of Martinez.
25' EXCELLENT SAVE Villa cut straight through United as a McGinn reverse pass puts Watkins in on the right of the area. He waits for the ball a touch, and Onana flies out to make a smothering save to keep United ahead.
67' GOAL! ASTON VILLA 1 (DOUGLAS LUIZ 67) MANCHESTER UNITED 1 It's been coming! Onana makes one point plank save after a scramble from a Villa corner, but it soon comes back. Bailey's cross deflects to the edge of the six yard box and Luiz throws a leg out to divert it high into the net.
70' SO CLOSE! What a run from Garnacho. He snakes across from the left wing, right across the face of the D, and curls a low shot just wide of the far post.
86' GOAL! ASTON VILLA 1 MANCHESTER UNITED 2 (MCTOMINAY 86) Nothing wrong with this cross from Dalot! He fizzes one to the edge of the six yard box and McTominay gets ahead of Cash to thump a header into the net to restore United's lead.
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