Table of Contents
Trimming the lead
Manchester United have done their best to get back into the Premier League title race.
A pair of goals from Mason Greenwood and a late strike from Edinson Cavani helped the Reds to a 3-1 win over Burnley.
The victory moves Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men to eight points of leaders Manchester City in the table with six games remaining.
United’s late-game heroics helped cancel out a second-half equaliser from Clarets defender James Tarkowski.
Game Story
Both teams came into this matchup desperate to win.
For United, they know that they might need to win out at this stage of the season and get some help if they are to come away with their first Premier League crown since 2012-13.
Sean Dyche’s team, meanwhile, would like to secure their berth in the top-flight for next season, sitting just seven points above the relegation zone heading into today’s game.
Burnley thought they’d taken the lead in the first minute.
Matthew Lowton played a long ball forward towards Clarets leading goalscorer Chris Wood.
The New Zealand striker got in front of Dean Henderson and headed the ball into the open goal.
However, the Burnley striker was offside, so the goal was called off.
In the 10th minute, United had a great chance.
Scott McTominay did well to work the ball out wide to Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
His cross found Paul Pogba, whose header was heading for the top corner, but Bailey Peacock-Farrell did well to scramble and tip it wide.
The chances kept coming for the Reds, and in the 14th minute, Marcus Rashford started an excellent counter for United.
The striker played the ball to the left for Bruno Fernandes, who curled a left-footed drive just wide of the bottom-right corner.
Just before we hit the half-hour mark, the Clarets had another scoring opportunity.
Fresh off getting treatment on the sidelines, Josh Brownhill joined the play, racing up the pitch to support his teammate Chris Wood, who was inches away from getting on the end of the Lowton cross.
In the 30th minute, it was United’s turn to come close.
An excellent exchange of passes between Luke Shaw, Rashford and Fernandes completely overwhelmed Lowton’s left-hand side.
Rashford unleashed a powerful strike from a tight angle that Peacock-Farrell was once again able to parry wide.
United came close again seven minutes from the interval.
Bruno Fernandes whipped a pass forward to Rashford, who fired in a first-time cross from the six-yard box towards an unmarked Mason Greenwood.
United’s striker, however, was unable to get a touch to it as the chance went amiss.
The Reds went ahead three minutes into the second half.
Rashford raced down the edge of the area, getting past Lowton before cutting inside and placing a nice pass the ball across goal.
Fernandes did well to dummy it and let it slide to Greenwood, who placed a left-footed drive into the bottom-left corner.
The Clarets responded, however, almost immediately.
An Ashley Westwood corner from the left found James Tarkowski, whose header went into the corner from close range putting his team level in the 50th minute.
Peacock-Farrell kept the score tied with 20 minutes remaining.
Rashford slipped a lovely ball to Luke Shaw, who hooked in an excellent cross towards the six-yard area.
Fernandes arrived late but latched onto the cross, heading it towards the bottom corner.
Burnley’s keeper though parried it away once again.
Six minutes before injury time, United’s young striker found the breakthrough his side needed.
Pogba reclaimed possession off of a United set-piece finding Mason Greenwood.
United’s striker powered a lethal strike towards the near post that Peacock-Farrell could do nothing about.
The shot took a massive deflection off of Charlie Taylor and into the net as the Reds were back in front.
Cavani iced the game in the third minute of stoppage time.
A strong tackle from Luke Shaw allowed Bruno Fernandes and United to counter.
The Portuguese midfielder found Greenwood, who played it back to Fernandes before feeding Donny van de Beek.
The Dutchman passed the ball across the goal where Cavani, with the simplest of touches, tapped it into the empty net.
Man of the Match
Mason Greenwood has come to life for the Reds after what’s been a frustrating campaign to this point.
The teenage striker has scored the winning goal in two of his last three league matches.
With his two goals today, he ties Wayne Rooney for most as a teenager for the club at 15.
Greenwood has five goals in his last six matches in all competitions.
Showing improvement
Today’s win is officially the sign of progress for the Red Devils, given where they were a season ago.
United have won 19 of their 32 Premier League games in this campaign.
That’s one more than they managed in their 2019-20 EPL season.
Five in a row
For Ole Gunnar Solskjaer today’s win is an important achievement as his side have now now five consecutive EPL fixtures.
It’s the first time the team has gone on such a streak since Solksjaer won his first six league matches in charge in 2019.
Managers Words
Following the match, United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said he’s pleased to see his team fighting right up until the final whistle.
“We have improved, and we have been better at winning games towards the end of games. Our fitness now, with all the games we’ve had, the boys are capable of churning out 90 minutes, and the fitter you are, the more you can do. I have always said that. The harder you train and the harder you play, the more ready you are.”
Next up
The Reds will have a week to rest up before returning to Premier League action.
Next Sunday they are on the road to face Leeds United.
The kickoff from Elland Road is at 2 pm. (JSL).
