Manchester United secured a hard-fought 3-2 victory against Newcastle United in an electrifying Premier League clash on Wednesday night, marking the culmination of our home fixtures for the 2023/24 season at Old Trafford. It was a memorable evening as Erik ten Hag's squad delivered a positive finale to our home campaign, setting the stage for the upcoming Women's fixture against Chelsea on Saturday.
The match commenced with an exciting display of talent as academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo broke the deadlock, capitalizing on an assist from fellow youngster Amad to slot home a clinical finish, granting us the lead heading into halftime.
However, Newcastle swiftly retaliated shortly after the break, courtesy of Anthony Gordon's strike. Yet, Amad once again showcased his prowess, this time taking matters into his own hands with a thunderous shot that left Martin Dubravka rooted to the spot, reinstating our advantage.
As the game progressed, substitute Rasmus Hojlund made an immediate impact, netting a sensational goal mere moments after stepping onto the pitch, seemingly securing victory for the Reds. Nonetheless, a late scare ensued when Lewis Hall unleashed a stoppage-time screamer for Newcastle.
Despite the tense finale, Manchester United held firm, ultimately clinching all three points and concluding our final home game of the season on a high note.
FIRST HALF - REDS TAKE THE LEAD
In a clash where European berths hung in the balance for both teams, the visitors began with intent, but Manchester United's defensive line held firm in the early exchanges. A potential threat arose when Casemiro's misplaced pass provided an opening for Gordon within the first five minutes, yet Sofyan Ambrabat's swift recovery saw him execute a perfectly timed tackle in the penalty area, denying an early breakthrough.
Shortly after, Casemiro, deployed in an unaccustomed central defensive role due to injuries, almost redeemed himself spectacularly with an audacious overhead kick, reminiscent of Alejandro Garnacho's flair, narrowly missing the target and catching former United goalkeeper Dubravka off guard.
As the first half progressed, Manchester United asserted control, pressing Newcastle high up the field and testing Dubravka with on-target efforts from Scott McTominay and Amad, but were unable to find the back of the net.
With regular striker Hojlund starting on the bench, Erik ten Hag opted to preserve the Denmark international's energy for the crucial final fixtures of the season, entrusting Bruno Fernandes with leading the line from the outset.
The Portugal international, who was himself only just returning from absence - the previous two fixtures being the first he has ever missed through injury in his entire club career - was instrumental in the opening goal. Amad rolled the ball into our captain's path from the right flank, but a smart dummy from Fernandes saw the ball go straight through to an isolated Mainoo in the box.
Given so much time in a dangerous area, Old Trafford stood still as Mainoo, played onside by Kieran Trippier, calmly picked his corner and placed his shot beyond the grasp of Dubravka just past the half-hour mark.
It was the Magpies' time to try to fashion a response and they almost did so just moments later, saved only by the heroic last-ditch sliding challenge of Casemiro, stealing the ball away from Gordon just yards out from goal, preventing a certain quickfire equaliser. Despite appeals for a penalty with Amrabat also challenging Gordon, these were dismissed.
The pressure was cranking up and it was the Brazilian Casemiro on call once more, just seconds after his first intervention, this time popping up in exactly the right place, at exactly the right time, to head the ball out of the goalmouth and back into play. In under a minute, our no.18 had single-handedly kept the Reds in front and likely left Newcastle kicking themselves as they headed back into the dressing rooms a goal down.
SECOND HALF - A THRILLING ENCOUNTER
Responding to Eddie Howe's halftime instructions, Newcastle United emerged with renewed vigor, swiftly translating their determination into tangible results. Jacob Murphy initiated the breakthrough, collecting the ball on the right flank and delivering a precise cross into the Reds' box, where Gordon capitalized to slot it past Onana.
Manchester United sought an immediate response as the hour mark approached. Fernandes took possession on the edge of the box following a corner, attempting to penetrate the Newcastle defense with a powerful strike. However, his effort was blocked, leading to a swift counter-attack by the Magpies fueled by the momentum of the rebound.
Caught off guard, only Amrabat remained as the last line of defense against three advancing Magpies. As they approached the penalty area, the responsibility fell to Alexander Isak, yet the Moroccan international exhibited remarkable resilience, throwing his body in front of the ball and making vital contact to divert it onto the top of the crossbar and out for a corner.
This crucial intervention provided the Reds with a platform to swiftly transition to the opposite end of the pitch and mount a response to Newcastle's threatening attack.
Fernandes had another corner, and, this time, it was glanced away on the near post, but it was a contact that would prove deadly for the visitors as they hadn't clocked Amad lurking with intent beyond the far post. The ball fell to the young Ivory Coast international and he only had one thought in his mind: launching a rocket at goal.
That he did, restoring the Reds' lead less than 10 minutes after the equaliser.
Newcastle commenced battle once more to get themselves back into the game and Ten Hag sensed changes were needed to maintain the advantage.
On came Marcus Rashford, Lisandro Martinez and Hojlund, with our no.10 making his 400th appearance for the Reds, but it was his Danish colleague that would make an instant impact. Having been on the pitch for just over a minute, the striker received the ball from Fernandes before embarking on a run around the edge of the visitors' box past Dan Burn. He outmuscled the centre-back, before finding a tight angle to squeeze the ball home for our third.
t looked like it was just the icing on the cake of a productive night for Ten Hag's side, but it would prove to be far more important than originally thought when Hall fired a long-distance strike beyond Onana in stoppage time, the ball curling away from the keeper, to give the Magpies late hope of redemption.
Newcastle threw everything forward, but the Reds stayed strong and added three more points to our campaign for European football. It all comes down to the final day, with Newcastle ahead only on goal difference. Chelsea won 2-1 at Brighton & Hove Albion, our last opponents, and cannot be caught by the Reds due to their superior goal difference.
MATCH DETAILS
Manchester United: Onana; Wan-Bissaka, Casemiro, Evans, Dalot; Mainoo (Rashford, 83), Amrabat, McTominay; Amad (Hojlund, 83), Fernandes (Eriksen, 89), Garnacho (Martinez, 83).
Substitutes not used: Bayindir, Kambwala, Collyer, Antony, Forson.
Bookings: Casemiro, Amad, Amrabat.
Goals: Mainoo 31, Amad 57, Hojlund 84.
Newcastle United: Dubravka; Trippier (Schar, 62), Krafth, Burn, Hall; Longstaff (Barnes, 77), Guimaraes, Anderson (Joelinton, 62); J. Murphy (Almiron, 62), Isak, Gordon.
Substitutes not used: Pope, Dummett, A. Murphy, White, Ritchie.
Bookings: Anderson, Gordon, Schar.
Goals: Gordon 49, Hall 90+2.
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