Rasmus Hojlund’s report-breaking double was sufficient to earn Manchester United a tense 2-1 win at Luton – a fourth league victory in a row to take Erik ten Hag’s aspect nearer to the highest 4.
The 21-12 months-previous grew to become the youngest Premier League participant to attain in six straight video games as he put United two up inside seven minutes – clinically ending after 36 seconds following Amari’i Bell’s mistake, earlier than instinctively chesting in Alejandro Garnacho’s shot from a nook.
Carlton Morris rounded off a scintillating opening quarter-hour by pulling one again and Luton ought to have levelled with a number of large possibilities – as they put United on the ropes, with Casemiro unfortunate to not see crimson for lunging on Ross Barkley whereas on a reserving.
United have been extra settled after the break – with Casemiro taken off on the interval having been lucky to not have obtained a second yellow card – and may have put the sport to mattress as Bruno Fernandes and Garnacho each failed to attain regardless of each rounding Luton goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski.
But regardless of some late Luton stress, together with Ross Barkley hitting the bar with the final kick of the sport, United held on to maneuver inside three factors of fifth-positioned Tottenham, with a high-5 spot presumably being sufficient for a Champions League place subsequent season.
A participant on hearth – Hojlund’s report-breaking double!
(*1*)
Rasmus Hojlund continues his run of superb kind in entrance of objective, giving Manchester United the lead after simply 36 seconds
Hojlund scores his second of the sport to double Manchester United’s lead
How Man Utd edged it – once more
It took simply 36 seconds for Hojlund to make historical past. Bell’s slack, sq. move alongside the backline was picked up by the Danish ahead. He had the easy process of skipping previous Kaminski and slotting house.
The United onslaught continued, as Luton struggled early doorways. Casemiro was denied with a block from a nook, which was cleared so far as Marcus Rashford whose shot was saved by Kaminski. Garnacho additionally stung the Luton goalkeeper’s palms in a similar way.
But one other shot from distance ended up bringing United’s second. Garnacho’s fierce effort was chested on by Hojlund in an exquisite improvised end.
Then got here the tried Luton fightback as former United midfielder Tahith Chong noticed a shot deflected into the trail of Morris, who beat Andre Onana to the ball to move house.
Carlton Morris pulls one again for Luton in opposition to Manchester United
All of a sudden, the sport modified because it was Luton on the assault, with United now on the ropes. Morris and Gabriel Osho put free headers over the bar from set-items, earlier than Cauley Woodrow noticed a transparent-reduce likelihood within the field blocked after Harry Maguire cheaply gifted the ball to the spectacular Barkley in his personal half.
United got here below extra stress as Casemiro, already booked for a problem on Bell, averted a second yellow for lunging at Barkley. Luke Shaw additionally picked up a reserving and was pressured off earlier than half-time. Meanwhile, Alfie Doughty ought to have introduced Luton degree by firing broad from the sting of the field after reducing inside.
Ten Hag took Casemiro and Maguire off at half-time and United did appear extra managed after the break.
Diogo Dalot was picked out by Onana within the field and Kaminski smothered the hassle. The Luton goalkeeper was equal to fierce strikes from Rashford and Garnacho both aspect of the hour mark.
(*2*)
Albert Sambi Lokonga retains Luton within the recreation with a ‘heroic’ block to disclaim Bruno Fernandes
Alejandro Garnacho could not convert an enormous Manchester United likelihood so as to add a 3rd
United had two possibilities to seal it, nonetheless. The first fell to Bruno Fernandes who rounded Kaminski however was denied by a final-ditch block by the retreating Albert Sambi Lokonga. Garnacho did precisely the identical on the break moments later however dallied as he reduce inside and Luton cleared with the objective gaping.
Fernandes put one other large likelihood broad of Kaminski’s far publish as many started to query Luton would make them pay. They practically did within the remaining minute of stoppage time as Barkley headed on a nook – just for it to crash off the bar and over, with Onana scrambling.
Another instance of a valiant defeat for Luton.
Ross Barkley got here near an equaliser within the remaining minutes of the match
What’s subsequent?
Luton are again in Premier League motion on Wednesday as they journey to Liverpool; kick-off 7.30pm.
Man Utd play once more on Saturday as they welcome Fulham to Old Trafford within the Premier League; kick-off 3pm.
Get Sky Sports on WhatsApp!
You can now begin receiving messages and alerts for the most recent breaking sports activities information, evaluation, in-depth options and movies from our devoted WhatsApp channel!
Find out extra right here…
Discussion about this post