MANCHESTER UNITED 1-2 LEEDS: Noah Okafor's double helps away side to a very rare league win at Old Trafford after Lisandro Martinez is sent off for pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin's hair
Noah Okafor of Leeds United celebrates
Noah Okafor netted twice for Leeds at Old Trafford(Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
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Leeds claimed their first league win at Old Trafford since 1981 as Lisandro Martinez was sent off on his return to the Manchester United side. Noah Okafor's first-half brace was enough for Leeds to claim a vital three points in their bid to avoid Premier League relegation and hand Michael Carrick just his second defeat as United boss.
Leeds started brilliantly and were rewarded when Okafor side-footed in from Omar Bogle's cross in the fifth minute. It was 2-0 in the 29th minute when United failed to clear their lines and Okafor's volley from the edge of the box was deflected past Senne Lammens into the bottom corner.
It could easily have been 3-0 before half-time, but Martinez prevented Ao Tanaka from tapping into an empty net after he went around Lammens. There were boos of discontent at the break, but Michael Carrick decided not to make any changes at half-time.
Benjamin Sesko was denied by Karl Darlow before Martinez was shown a straight red card for pulling Calvert-Lewin's hair in a bizarre incident. Casemiro halved the deficit with a bullet header from Bruno Fernandes' back-post cross - his 17th Premier League assist of the season - as United stirred.
Calvert-Lewin spurned a great chance for 3-1, heading straight at Lammens, but it wasn't to prove costly as he made up for it with a goalline clearance from Casemiro's header. An improved 10-man United couldn't force an equaliser and Leeds ended a run of 18 league visits to Old Trafford without victory. Here are the talking points.
1. Leeds fast out the blocks
One of the questions heading into the game concerned United's sharpness. Having not played for 24 days, would Carrick's be ready after a training camp in Ireland? That question wasn't answered in the first 10 minutes, but was clear was that Leeds were more than ready.
They could have taken the lead even earlier, but Calvert-Lewin's sliding effort from Gabriel Gudmundsson's low cross was saved at point-blank range by Lammens. That miss was quickly forgotten as Okafor cushioned in Bogle's cross from the opposite flank after Leny Yoro failed to clear under pressure from Calvert-Lewin.
Noah Okafor of Leeds United celebrates
Noah Okafor put Leeds 1-0 up after five minutes(Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
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2. Missing players' absences felt
United knew they would be without Harry Maguire for this match, with the centre-back serving a suspension after being sent off in the 2-2 draw with Bournemouth. The return of Martinez from a calf injury after missing five games appeared to be perfectly timed, but Maguire's absence was obviously an issue right from the off.
Combined with the absence of Kobbie Mainoo and two of United's most solid performers were missing. Mainoo was replaced by Manuel Ugarte and the Uruguay international did nothing to endear himself to the home fans. Leeds' wing-backs caused United all sorts of problems, while Martinez's rustiness was evident even before his crazy red card, in his attempted pass to Casemiro, which surrendered possession on the edge of the box in the build-up to Okafor's second goal.
With the Premier League the only focus, Carrick has been able to stick with the same formula week after week. Perhaps for the first time under the interim manager, their lack of depth of evident.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin of Leeds United has a shot while under pressure from Lisandro Martinez of Manchester United
Lisandro Martinez was thrown into the deep-end on his return(Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
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3. Martinez sees red
United's task was made even harder when Martinez was given his marching orders by referee Paul Tierney in the 56th minute. The United defender was tussling with Calvert-Lewin for a long ball when he reached out and tugged at the Leeds striker's hair bun.
The VAR sent Tierney to the pitchside monitor and the decision was made swiftly, much to Martinez's bemusement. He eventually trudged off while pleading his innocence, but Gary Neville wasn't fooled. "He knows what he's doing there," he said on co-commentary for Sky Sports.
Lisandro Martinez pulled Dominic Calvert-Lewin's hair
Lisandro Martinez was sent off for pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin's hair
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4. A classic combo
Casemiro is leaving United at the end of the season. He will primarily be remembered for his, at times, masterful play in holding midfield - his ability to sniff out danger, intercept passes and keep the ball moving in possession.
But in years to come, United fans will look back upon his uncanny heading ability at the other end of the pitch. The Brazilian is absolutely brilliant in the air and always seems to be on the same wavelength as his primary source of crosses: Fernandes. Remarkably, Casemiro's last six goals have been headers assisted by the United captain - and it is a combination that will be missed next season.
Casemiro of Manchester United celebrates scoring his team's first goal with Bruno Fernandes
Casemiro was assisted by Bruno Fernandes again(Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)
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5. Spurs the big losers
United remain third and still appear huge favourites to secure a place in next season's Champions League. Instead, the defeat leaves Tottenham as the biggest losers of the night.
After a weekend which saw Roberto De Zerbi's side lose 1-0 to Sunderland, West Ham thrash Wolves 4-0 and Nottingham Forest pick up a point in a 1-1 draw with Aston Villa, things got even worse for Spurs, with Leeds claiming a memorable win to move six points clear of the drop zone.
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