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Manchester United 2-1 Aston Villa
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Bruno Fernandes decided the main game against Aston Villa with his penalty kick to 2-1 after an hour of play at Old Trafford on Friday night.
Anthony Martial ensured that Manchester United led at halftime, but Bertrand Traoré leveled just before Paul Pogba arranged for the Bruno Fernandes penalty.
– It didn’t cost me the last ten minutes, because we should have finished better. It seemed like a cup final or a last game of the season. We have to control games better when we lead, says Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær.
The victory makes Manchester United breathe on the back of league leaders Liverpool. Liverpool tops the Premier League table with better goal difference. Leicester and Everton are four points behind the two teams in front.
– Ole Gunnar is in a good place now. It’s been a long time since critics could say so much. You’ve parked the discussion until now, says Erik Thorstvedt, TV 2’s soccer expert.
Liverpool and Manchester United will meet on Sunday, January 17.
However, Solskjær will not respond if his team is a candidate for the title.
– We’re not talking about that right now. It’s too soon. We must strive to improve and get victories in regular matches. I think we could have decided this match much earlier, because we had counterattacks and chances, but there were three important points, Solskjær tells TV 2.
Buying keys with ransom
It was Manchester United who was the leading team at the opening of the match. At the beginning Anthony Martial had a useful opportunity, but the whistle of the French striker was stopped very well by Emiliano Martínez in Villa’s goal.
– It was a coup, said TV 2 soccer expert Erik Thorstvedt about the goalkeeper who switched from Arsenal to Aston Villa before the season.
However, Aston Villa was completely harmless, and within minutes of Martial’s opportunity, it was David De Gea’s turn to perform. John McGinn’s shot was interrupted by the Manchester United goalkeeper.
In the fourth of the game, Manchester United launched a good attack before Fred had to finish. The Brazilian’s attempt slipped just outside the goal.
Mings elbow in Pogba
Paul Pogba was elbowed in the face by Villa stopper Tyrone Mings at 16 meters after half an hour of play. It was a bloody lip for Pogba, but no penalty for Mings.
– I’m surprised that the VAR didn’t look at him and took a penalty kick, says Erik Thorstvedt.
TV 2 has received an explanation from the VAR room, which considers the “contact as normal”. That decision was supported by TV 2 Premier League expert Trevor Morley.
Five minutes before the break, Manchester United did it. Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s post was greeted at the first post by Martial, who headed 1-0.
Compensation for Aston Villa
Just over five minutes into the second half, Aston Villa came close to equalizing. Jack Grealish struck out Ollie Watkins, who was stopped by a very good save by David De Gea.
Wan-Bissaka slept six minutes an hour when Aston Villa quickly released a free kick. Jack Grealish came just down the left wing and scored Bertrand Traoré, who made it 1-1 for Aston Villa.
Soon after, Manchester United received a penalty. Paul Pogba fell in a duel with Douglas Luiz. The VAR studied the situation, but decided to support the decision of Judge Michael Oliver. From eleven meters, Bruno Fernandes was as confident as usual and knocked out at 2-1.
Just a quarter of an hour before the end, Bruno Fernande tried his luck from long distance, but a brilliant Martinez knew how to hit the crossbar and more.
In extra time, it was Matty Cash who fired a long shot, but David De Gea stopped the attempt with a solid save.
