Forward Marcus Rashford continued his goalscoring form for Manchester United as he helped Leeds United to a 2-0 win at Elland Road on Sunday.
Rashford broke the deadlock in the 80th minute when he headed Leeds goalkeeper Ilan Meslier’s cross from defender Luke Shaw.
Just five minutes later, winger Alejandro Garnacho doubled United’s lead with a clean finish to seal the win from a pass from Wat Weghorst.
Forward Cresencio Somerville and new signing midfielder Weston McKennie impressed for the home side but were unsuccessful.
In his 400th Premier League appearance for the club, United goalkeeper David De Gea was instrumental in keeping a clean sheet – his 139th in a United shirt – which saw him equal Peter Schmeichel’s record.
The result moves United into second place in the table, one point ahead of Manchester City who face Aston Villa later today, while Leeds remain in 17th.
“At the end of the game you saw how much it meant,” United goalkeeper De Gea told Sky Sports.
“Fans, players. We deserved to win at home but today we did. Great game, we knew if we could keep a clean sheet we would win the game so we did. We fought till the end as a team. “
United boss Erik ten Haag told the BBC: “It was a busy game, which you’d expect. At the start we weren’t calm enough, we made bad decisions on the ball and weren’t calm enough on the ball, too busy, and sub After we were a bit calmer, we set the game a bit more.”
“He [Rashford] is a great striker, he scores left, right and with the head. It’s about having focus for the whole game, and it’s about finishing and he has the ability to do that. “
Chances were few in the feisty first half, Somerville twice went close for Leeds and Bruno Fernandes wasted the visitors’ best chance.
Ten Haag’s side continued to struggle to break down the hosts until an in-form Rashford scored his 21st goal of the season in all competitions to break Leeds’ resistance.
Gaps began to appear as the deadlock broke down and substitute Garnacho put the game to bed five minutes from time, racing clear before firing home.
The two teams were familiar with each other after only playing out a 2–2 draw at Old Trafford four days earlier, and the intensity level did not drop for the return to Elland Road.
The major difference between the matches was the final pass, with Ten Haag’s team struggling to create any openings as Leeds started well.
Somerville should have done better from an early start in the penalty area, before being denied by a smart save from De Gea in the United goal just before the break.
Moments after denying Somerville, Fernandes found himself clear through on goal following an error by Max Weber, but Meslier got a foot out to deny the Portugal international.
The second half was tight. Leeds had half chances just after the break when Diogo Dalot struck the crossbar for the visitors.
But this isn’t the first time this season a man was left to dig his team out of a hole.
Shaw’s cross was inches right over Rashford’s head and the England international made no mistake with a bullet header.
Garnacho’s pace created a game-clinching second and the teenager produced a clinical finish.
Leeds are now nine games winless in the Premier League, their longest run without a win in the competition since 10 games 1997.
Leeds caretaker coach Michael Skubala said, “I’m really proud of the group.” “We haven’t got anything from the game, but we have done well.
“I think top players at the top level can change the game and this is a moment of Rashford’s class.”