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Manchester United scored six goals in a single Premier League match for the first time since Sir Alex Ferguson retired when his long-awaited battle with Leeds ended 6-2.
There was plenty of anticipation ahead of the match as the two rivals prepared to meet in the Premier League for the first time in 16 years.
It didn’t take long for the game to come to life. Man Utd took a two-goal lead in the first three minutes on a Scott McTominay brace.
His first goal came just after just 69 seconds. Completely unmarked on the edge of the box, he deflected a shot to the bottom corner.
With the next action of the game, McTominay made two. The Scottish midfielder ran behind the defense to grab a pass from Anthony Martial and shoot home with his left foot.
WHAT STARTED 💪
Scott McTominay scores TWICE in five minutes!
📺 See in Sky Sports PL
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📲 Download the @SkySports application! pic.twitter.com/PoZApYGLt3– Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 20, 2020
It made the challenge even more daunting for Leeds, who would have expected a different result when Patrick Bamford then dragged a deflected shot on his first big chance.
Bamford did have the ball in the back of the net in the 18th minute, but he was offside when he flew home so he didn’t count.
Man Utd responded instantly. The hosts showed some good linking game on a counterattack, before Luke Ayling put in a foot to interrupt the attack.
However, the ball went straight into the path of Bruno Fernandes, who accelerated to extend the lead to three in 20 minutes.
⚽️⚽️⚽️ Man Utd has scored as many goals in today’s first 20 minutes as they have in PL’s other 540 minutes of action at Old Trafford this season. pic.twitter.com/QXCMQIxKwz
– Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) December 20, 2020
At the other end, David De Gea used his feet to save a blow from Raphinha. But once again, the hosts struck again moments later.
This time, Martial tapped a corner in Victor Lindelof’s path. Leeds were unable to pick up the Swedish international, who scored at home to make it 4-0.
Leeds drew one through a corner of their own when Liam Cooper headed a cross from Raphinha three minutes before the break.
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Marcelo Bielsa knew he had to change something at halftime, so he retired two of his most reliable players, Kalvin Phillips and Mateusz Klich, to be replaced by Pascal Struijk and Jamie Shackleton.
But it was the hosts who had the first chance of the half, when Martial fired wide from almost exactly the same spot as Bamford at the start of the first half. Like his opponent, the Manchester United striker should have hit the mark.
Leeds’ first chance after the break was courtesy of Raphinha, who was right to deflect a volley on goal from a Rodrigo cross. However, De Gea was up to the task, making a good reactionary save.
James extends Man Utd leadership
One of the most surprising names on Manchester United’s roster was Daniel James, who had almost joined Leeds in the past and is reportedly still a target for them.
He showed them what they lack by giving a terrific first touch of McTominay’s pass, before setting up with another and shooting Illan Meslier to restore the four-goal cushion.
IT’S FIVE! 🖐️
Dan James finishes well to put the game well and truly beyond question
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📲 Download the @SkySports application! pic.twitter.com/KS4VGIPoaG– Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 20, 2020
The Red Devils had a chance to further extend that lead when they were awarded a penalty after Martial fell under a challenge from Struijk.
Fernandes made no mistake by sending the ball into the lower corner from the penalty spot to make it 6-1 with more than 20 minutes left on the clock.
That made it the first time Man Utd had scored six goals in a league game since the Ferguson days. It is also the second time they have accomplished the feat in any competition this year, having achieved six in an FA Cup match against Tranmere Rovers in January.
Leeds he counterattacked with a Stuart Dallas goal that was as spectacular as it was insignificant. He took a shot home from outside the box to cut the deficit to four.
The visitors could have had a third in the last minute of regulation time. Two attackers simulated the ball before Jack Harrison fired wide.
The damage had been done a long time ago, and the three points stayed with the home team. He lifts Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team to third place, with a game in hand over his closest rivals on the table.
Leeds, on the other hand, is in 14th place. That was their toughest loss to Marcelo Bielsa.
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