Manchester United came from behind to win 3-2 at Aston Villa thanks to an instinctive winner from Rasmus Hojlund – his first goal for the club – after Villa had taken a two goal lead at the break thanks to goals from John McGinn and leander Dendoncker. Alejandro Garnacho levelled the match after the break before Hojlund won the game for United.
Hojljund celebrates his late winner, his first goal in the Premier League, as Manchester United fight back from 2-0 down to draw 3-2 at Aston Villa.
After Villa had taken the lead through John McGinn’s first-half goal, United responded with goals from Dendoncker and Hojlund to make it 2-2 at the half-hour mark.
Alejandro Garnacho thought he had given the visitors a goal when he finished off a great team move but the goal was ruled out due to offside.
The disallowed goal took the wind out of United’s sails, however, less than ten minutes later, Garnacho struck to end United’s goal drought of over seven hours.
With 20 minutes remaining, Garnacho scored again to level the match and set up an electrifying finale.
United were in complete control in the closing stages, and Hojlund was in the right spot at the wrong time to give United the lead with his first goal for the club.
TALKING POINT – HOJLUND FINALLY OFF THE MARK
Erik ten Hag, on the other hand, will be delighted with the win, but he will also be delighted that his star striker has finally broken his Premier League goal drought.
With five goals in his last five Champions League games, Jozef Hog Hoglund’s lacklustre domestic form has begun to call into question his £72m price-tag.
But the winner against Villa feels like he’s already started to pay that price, the right player in the right place at the right time winning a crucial three points for United.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH – ALEJANDRO GARNACHO (MAN UNITED)
After a slow start to the season, Hojlund turned into a star of the show in the second-half, working tirelessly to see United to victory.
With Villa 2-0 up, it was Hojlund who made the runs, bullied Villa’s defence and put Martinez under pressure.
Hojlund was unlucky to be offside for the disallowed goal, but if he had kept his run going for half a second it would have been three goals for Hojlund.
It was a season-defining moment for Hojlund and gave United the confidence they needed to win.
MATCH RATINGS
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
21’ – GOAL!! MAN UNITED 0-1 ASTON VILLA (MCGINN): McGinn sweeps a cross into the box from the left and the ball slides through and over the line to put Villa ahead! There was some debate as to whether or not Watkins – who was offside – actually had a touch but VAR has ruled it out after a brief review.
28’ – GOAL!!! MAN UNITED 0-2 ASTON VILLA (DENDONCKER): From the resulting corner, McGinn heads the ball to the back post, where a completely unmarked Lenglet sends the ball back across goal and Dendoncker slots it past Andre Onana to double Villa’s lead!
59’ – GOAL!!! MAN UNITED 1-2 ASTON VILLA (GARNACHO): Rashford takes the ball inside the six-yard line and Garnacho does not miss a beat when he takes the ball behind Martinez at the goal post! This one is going to count!
71’ – GOAL!!! MAN UNITED 2-2 ASTON VILLA (GARNACHO): Garnacho runs into the box and plays Fernandes wide on the right. Garnacho continues running into the box and gets the ball and strikes again, this time beyond Martinez. The ball takes a little deflection off of Carlos but he doesn’t care. We are level. Let’s go!
82’ – GOAL!!! MAN UNITED 3-2 ASTON VILLA (HOJLUND): Fernandes sends a corner that comes off McGinn and falls to Hojlund who turns and scores! Sheer relief as Hojlund gets his first goal for the club and what a moment!
