Manchester United orchestrated a stunning comeback, scoring three goals in the second half to clinch a 3-2 triumph over Aston Villa in a pulsating English Premier League (EPL) clash at Old Trafford on Tuesday evening.
In one of the five Boxing Day fixtures, the Red Devils overcame a lackluster first-half performance with a remarkable turnaround.
Alejandro Garnacho’s brace and Rasmus Hojlund’s late winner marked a desperately needed win for United, coinciding with the recent acquisition of a 25% stake in the club by Jim Ratcliffe.
The victory halted Manchester United’s three-match winless streak, with manager Erik ten Hag’s team also finding the net for the first time in four matches.
Aston Villa took the lead with two quick goals within five minutes. John McGinn’s cross in the 21st minute found the back post untouched, while poor defending on a routine corner in the 26th minute allowed Clement Lenglet to set up Leander Dendoncker for a second goal, putting the Villains in control at halftime.
However, the second half saw a spirited fight-back from the home side. Garnacho tapped in from Marcus Rashford’s cross in the 59th minute, and his deflected shot leveled the score on 71 minutes.
Rasmus Hojlund, the marquee summer signing, secured the victory with the winning goal on 82 minutes. A quickly-taken corner kick deflected into his path, and the Denmark international found the net, sparking jubilation in the Theatre of Dreams.
This goal marked Hojlund’s first in the EPL since joining Manchester United. The win propelled United to sixth place on the EPL table, while Aston Villa remains third after 19 matches.
In earlier fixtures on Boxing Day, Liverpool secured a 2-0 victory over Burnley, with goals from Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota.
The win returned Liverpool to the top of the league table with 40 points from 19 matches, two points ahead of Arsenal, who have played a game less. Meanwhile, Newcastle United’s struggles continued with a 3-1 loss at home to Nottingham Forest.
