Manchester United showed fierce determination to stay in the top four as they battled past Luton Town with victory at Kenilworth Road, with Rasmus Hjølund scoring for the sixth successive Premier League game.
United, who joined from Atalanta for £72 million in the summer, went on a heated winning streak after some early struggles in front of goal, scoring two goals in the first seven minutes and sealing Erik ten Hag's side's fourth in the league. He achieved consecutive wins.
After just 37 seconds, the 21-year-old capitalized on a mistake by Amali'i Bell and found goalkeeper Tomas Kaminski, before adding his second goal seven minutes later, instinctively converting Alejandro Garnacho's shot into the net. is.
Despite the raucous atmosphere, Luton Town responded with defiance and class, with Carlton Morris' quick header giving the Hatters hope, especially in the first half, as United struggled to cope with the home side's intensity. gave.
United lost defender Luke Shaw to injury before the interval, with Harry Maguire and Casemiro also sent off during the break, but it was the visitors who created the better chances against Luton's struggles in the second half, with Kamin Hat trick for skiing by Garnacho, Bruno Fernandes, Rashford and Hojlund.
But there was another tense moment for the visitors in stoppage time when Ross Barkley's glancing header hit the top of the crossbar.
The victory left United with just five points between them and Aston Villa in fourth place.
Manchester United's young brigade makes a difference
United needed a leader to get them through what was a long and testing encounter, especially in the first half, but they emerged from an unlikely source to secure the all-important three points.
Casemiro, who was lucky to avoid a second yellow card, and experienced players such as Maguire and Raphael Varane struggled, exposed to the energy of Luton's approach, but it was the match-winner who stepped up. Hoylund and standout 18-year-old Koby Mainu. .
Høylund has really emerged in recent weeks and now he's got the goals that all of his hard work – even at the start of the season when he was in short supply – deserves. His first goal was a piece of calm work, the second a quick thinker that United established early on. Control.
The Danish forward showed some commendable hold-up play and a willingness to engage physically with the Luton defence, earning a standing ovation from United's away supporters as he was denied three goals only by a block from Kaminski. I received the request and departed.
Mainu, on the other hand, rose through the blood and thunder with a calmness rare for someone so young. United have a gem in their hands.
After the break the visitors improved and despite Luton's pressing they were the more dangerous team, with Kaminski and Sambi Lokonga denying Rashford and the goalkeeper-Bell combination denying Garnacho. did.
In the end, Hojlund's early goal was enough to give United a point.
More to come.
lineup
luton
formation 3-4-2-1
- twenty fourkaminsky
- 15Mengi
- 2OshoBooked in 87 minutes
- 29bell
- 7Ogbene
- 28Sambi Lokonga
- 6Berkeley
- 45DoughtyReplacementberryin 82 minutesminutes
- 9morris
- 14ChonReplacementClerkin 68 minutesminutes
- TenwoodrowI made a reservation for 17 minutes.ReplacementTownsendin 68 minutesminutesI made a reservation for 70 minutes.
substitute
- 3Potts
- 8berry
- 12Kabore
- 16bark
- 17Mpanzu
- 18Clerk
- twenty threeKururu
- 30Townsend
- 43nelson
Manchester United
formation 4-2-3-1
- twenty fourOnana
- 20Dalot
- 19Varan
- FiveMaguireBooked in 42 minutesReplacementevansin 45 minutesminutes
- twenty threeshowI made a reservation in 20 minutes.Replacementlindelofin 45+2'minutesBooked in 81 minutes
- 37MainuI made a reservation in 75 minutes.
- 18CasemiroBooked in 34 minutesReplacementMcTominayin 45 minutesminutes
- 17Garnacho
- 8Bruno Fernandes
- Tenrashford
- 11HoylundReplacementSouth Amrabatin 86 minutesminutes
substitute
- 1bindil
- 2lindelof
- FourSouth Amrabat
- 14Eriksen
- 16Diallo
- twenty oneanthony
- 35evans
- 39McTominay
- 62Forson
- Referee:
- david coote
- Attendance:
- 11,483
live text
-
Game over, Luton Town 1, Manchester United 2.
-
End of the second half, Luton Town 1, Manchester United 2.
-
Ross Barkley (Luton Town) hits the bar with a header from the center of the box. Luke Berry assisted a cross from a corner kick.
-
Corner of Luton Town. Diogo Dalot conceded a goal.
-
Corner, Manchester United. Albert Sambi Lokonga conceded a goal.
-
Attempt blocked. Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United) took a left-footed shot from the left of the box, but it was blocked. Supported by Marcus Rashford.
-
Corner of Luton Town. Diogo Dalot conceded a goal.
-
Corner of Luton Town. Sofian Amrabat conceded a goal.
-
Corner of Luton Town. Diogo Dalot conceded a goal.
-
Attempt failed. Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) took a right-footed shot from the right side of the box, but it missed the left side of the frame.
-
Offside, Manchester United. Raphael Varane was caught offside.
-
Gabriel Osho (Luton Town) is shown a yellow card for a serious foul.
-
Foul by Gabriel Osho (Luton Town).
-
Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) wins a free kick on the right.
-
Substitution, Manchester United. Sofian Amrabat replaces Rasmus Hojlund.
-
Attempt failed. Chiedozie Ogbene (Luton Town) took a left-footed shot from the right side of the box, but it went wide to the left of the target. Supported by Andros Townsend.
-
Corner of Luton Town. Scott McTominay concedes a goal.
-
Attempt blocked. Andros Townsend (Luton Town)'s left-footed shot from outside the box was blocked. Assisted by Teden Mengi.
-
Luton Town instead. Luke Berry replaces Alfie Doty.
-
Victor Lindelof (Manchester United) was shown a yellow card for a serious foul.
how to play
Rate players out of 10 during or after a match. Scoring will end 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Evaluation range key = Please give up = pure perfection