Ten-man Villa miss out on Champions League after defeat at Man Utd
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim on the touchline. Pic: Martin Rickett/PA Wire.
Manchester United 2 Aston Villa 0
RUBEN Amorim and Manchester United finally gave their supporters something to cheer about at the end of a miserable season, with Amad Diallo’s 76th minute header sinking the 10 men of Aston Villa.
The United youngster also won an 87th minute penalty, after being tripped by Ian Maatsen, which was converted by substitute Christian Eriksen to complete a comfortable victory.
Emiliano Martinez was sent off on the stroke of half-time for the visitors who missed out on a place in next season’s Champions League with the defeat.
It was a particularly cruel blow for Villa as, moments before Diallo broke the deadlock, Morgan Rogers had the ball in the United goal, only for it to be harshly ruled out for a foul on the keeper.
But, when Bruno Fernandes chipped in a superb lofted pass soon after, Diallo sprinted in to head home clinically from the corner of the six-yard box.
Martinez’s moment of madness arrived in the first minute of first half added time when he sprinted from his area and body-checked Rasmus Hojlund to the ground.
It was the result of a poor back pass by Matty Cash but, still, with Martinez possibly leaving Villa this summer, it was an inauspicious way for him to sign off and the only surprise was his argument with referee Thomas Bramall over the red.
Martinez had been far the busier of the two keepers to that point, with Villa a distant second to United, despite the fact that Unai Emery’s team were playing for that all-important top-five finish.
United, with nothing at all to play for apart from the hope of not finishing one place above the relegation zone, turned in their best domestic performance for weeks.
Martinez made a fine double save from Mason Mount inside the opening four minutes, keeping out his shot with an outstretched boot then catching his follow-up header.
Fernandes struck an effort straight at the Argentinian keeper and Casemiro’s low shot was saved by the keeper at the foot of his post. It was a massive upgrade on what United had produced in their previous eight league games, none of which had ended in victory.
But, still, the chronic lack of finishing that has plagued United all season continued; a point proved when Diallo side-footed wide from 12 yards and Diogo Dalot, on as an early sub for injured Noussair Mazraoui, struck a post.
With back-up Robin Olsen having replaced Marco Asensio after the red card, the Villa defence was clearly destined for an even busier second half.
Hojlund had the ball in the net, heading in from four yards, but had the effort ruled out for offside, Fernandes’s terrific 25-yard shot whistled just wide and Casemiro’s curling effort grazed the post.
The chances - and misses - continued to mount for United; Hojlund could not turn to meet a pass after great work from Kobbie Mainoo, he then latched onto Maatsen’s bad header but could only shoot at Olsen, and Casemiro wasted another glorious opening from 15 yards.
It was all too much for Amorim, who was spoken to by the fourth official after kicking over a water bottle in the technical area, such was his frustration.
Villa were under increasing pressure, although news of Newcastle conceding at home to Everton, lifted them into the Champions League places briefly, and gave them added incentive to cling on for the point.
The visitors actually had the ball in the United net on 73 minutes, after Rogers appeared to have dispossessed keeper Altay Bayindir of the ball before scoring, although VAR confirmed Bramall’s decision of a foul, despite Villa’s strong protests.
It proved a particularly bad blow for Villa, with United’s opener coming moments later.
And, as United coasted towards just an 11th league win of the season, they even had time to hit the woodwork for a third time, through Eriksen’s 25-yard free-kick.
Manchester United (3-4-2-1): Bayindir 6; Lindelof 6, Maguire 7, Heaven 6 (Evans 66, 6); Mazraoui 7 (Dalot 19, 4; Mainoo 46, 6), Fernandes 7, Casemiro 6, Dorgu 7; Diallo 9, Mount 7 (Eriksen 66, 6); Hojlund 5 (Obi 80). Substitutes (not used) Collyer, Fredricson, Heaton, Mainoo, Ugarte.
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Martinez 4; Cash 5, Konsa 5, Torres 7, Maatsen 4; Kamara 6 (Barkley 83), Onana 6 (Ramsey 63, 5); Rogers 6 (Malen 84), Asensio 6 (Olsen 45, 7), McGinn 5 (Tielemans 62, 5); Watkins 4. Substitutes (not used) Bailey, Digne, Garcia, Mings.
x
Subscribe to access all of the Irish Examiner.
From as little as €1 a week with our digital introductory offer.
Already a subscriber? Sign in