LONDON, United Kingdom. (VOICE OF NAIJA) – Manchester United pulled off a remarkable comeback to secure a thrilling victory against 10-man Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford.
In a historic Premier League encounter, United found themselves trailing by two goals within just four minutes, courtesy of strikes from Taiwo Awoniyi and Willy Boly.
However, Christian Eriksen provided a lifeline for United with a goal to reduce the deficit. The momentum shifted in United’s favor when Casemiro equalized by capitalizing on Bruno Fernandes’ header, courtesy of a superb assist from Marcus Rashford.
United’s manager, Ten Hag, had heaped praise on Fernandes’ leadership skills prior to the match, and the Portuguese midfielder proved his worth by showing immense composure and leading his team’s charge for a winner.
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Forest’s captain, Joe Worrall, was shown a red card for a foul on Fernandes near the edge of the area, providing United with a numerical advantage.
Although United couldn’t convert the resulting free-kick, Fernandes made no mistake when presented with an opportunity 14 minutes from time. He coolly dispatched the winning goal after Rashford was brought down by Danilo, sealing a memorable victory for the Red Devils.
Despite missing key players such as Mason Mount, Luke Shaw, and Rasmus Hojlund, who watched from the directors’ box due to injuries, United will be delighted to come away with all three points. However, concerns remain regarding the depth of their squad and overall performance.
Rashford, deployed in a wider role as Anthony Martial and substitute Jadon Sancho operated as the central strikers, proved to be a constant threat and displayed intent from the onset.
Antony on the right flank also troubled the Forest defense, although his final delivery often lacked precision.
While the comeback victory showcased United’s resilience, vulnerabilities in their midfield were exposed. Forest’s opening goal exemplified this weakness, as United conceded on the counter-attack following their own corner.
The home side found themselves chasing Taiwo Awoniyi, who demonstrated his strength and skill to break free from the defense and net his seventh consecutive goal, an impressive feat considering his slow start at Forest.
Ahead of the game, United had not expected any major signings before the transfer deadline, raising questions about the sustainability of their approach.
The benching of Harry Maguire throughout the match, as Ten Hag opted to switch the defensive roles of Maguire and Victor Lindelof, further adds uncertainty to Maguire’s future at the club. Although Ten Hag had emphasized Maguire’s importance, the substitution of Lindelof for the injured Raphael Varane at halftime suggests otherwise.
Overall, United’s thrilling comeback victory will undoubtedly boost morale within the squad.
However, the team will need to address their weaknesses, particularly in midfield, if they are to sustain their success in the long run.