What a week it has been for Leeds United and Daniel Farke – first an FA Cup semi-final secured for the first time in 39 years then a first away league win against hated rivals Manchester United for 45 years.
This was more than just a memorable night at Old Trafford it was an invaluable three points in the Whites' fight to stay in the Premier League.
They are now six points clear of third from bottom Tottenham with six games remaining and just as importantly proved to themselves that they could win away from home again after a succession of near misses had left fans wondering if the victory at Wolves back in September was to be the team's only league win on their travels this season.
For Noah Okafor it was also a memorable night as he volleyed home both goals in the 2-1 victory and can now prepare to have a song sung in his honour – a-la Jermaine Beckford who scored the last winner for Leeds in a win at Old Trafford in a 2010 FA Cup tie.
Noah Okafor was able to celebrate twice after his double strike at Manchester United.placeholder image
Noah Okafor was able to celebrate twice after his double strike at Manchester United.
It was no smash and grab as the Whites had enough good chances to have hit six and manager Farke was rightly proud of his players again.
He said: "I think it's our first win at Premier League level ever here at Old Trafford and the first win in four decades in the league.
“It feels outstanding, crunch-time period, playing a bit under pressure. We didn't have the easiest week, key players out, several others had a difficult week in terms of training.
“Just two days of team training (for Okafor, Gabriel Gudmundsson and Jaka Bijol]), I was reluctant to put them in the starting line-up but thank God I took the risk and they delivered.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin had an eventful night at Old Trafford as he missed a couple of big chances, made a vital goal-line clearance and had his hair pulled to lead to Manchester United being reduced to 10 men.placeholder image
Dominic Calvert-Lewin had an eventful night at Old Trafford as he missed a couple of big chances, made a vital goal-line clearance and had his hair pulled to lead to Manchester United being reduced to 10 men.
"I think the key was to be brave and play on the front foot, if you try and park the bus there's no chance of points here.
"We were brave in our pressing, first half was excellent when I think about the chances we could easily have been three or four up.
“Excellent first half, started really well in the second half. But we're not the finished product, we're not immaculate.
On the other side it's a top class side, in third place, have won all their home games under Michael Carrick. They could bring quality players from the bench.
“We missed too many of our chances, could have buried the game before. We had to dig in but no question we deserved to win the game."
Leeds surprised their hosts with the way they took the game to their opponents from the kick-off and could have scored in the second minute with Dominic Calvert-Lewin stretching to meet Gudmundsson's brilliant low cross only to send his shot straight at home keeper Senne Lammens.
They were ahead on five minutes, however, as Jayden Bogle's cross eluded Calvert-Lewin in the middle, but was calmly volleyed home by Okafor.
The hosts showed glimpses of an attacking threat with the pace of Amad Diallo a worry as he got a shot in that needed Karl Darlow to make his first save.
But the Whites swamped their opponents with their brave pressing game and went two up when Okafor added his second with a volley from the edge of the box that was deflected past Lammens.
It could have been even better as Calvert-Lewin got free in the box only to head over on the stretch to meet Bogle's cross. And Ao Tanaka – who was everywhere in the first half – took advantage of some more outstanding pressing, winning the ball and driving into the box to go round the keeper only to be denied by an incredible goal-line tackle by Lisandro Martinez.
Another big chance went begging in the second half when Calvert-Lewin met Bogle's chip in but his header from seven yards out was again too close to the keeper.
Gudmundsson also fired wide after making a great run while Bogle raced through only to be unable to get a shot away and a third goal just would not come.
By then the home team were down to 10 men with Martinez sent-off after VAR intervention for pulling Calvert-Lewin's hair.
A bit harsh, perhaps, but they could have been a man down earlier as Luke Shaw got away with a bookable foul in the first half and his blatant professional foul after the break did get him a caution. A further offence by the left-back was also dealt with leniently by referee Paul Tierney.
Despite being down to 10 men the Reds created their best chances with Casemiro left unmarked at the far post to head home Bruno Fernandez' cross and make it 2-1.
Only a superb goal-line clearance by Calvert-Lewin and a fine Darlow save from a Benjamin Sesko header denied the hosts an equaliser, but Leeds saw out a nervy finish, with seven minutes of added time to collect their deserved victory.
(Casemiro 69)
(Okafor 5, 29)
Monday, April 13, 2026
Premier League
Man Utd: Lammens; Mazraoui (Dalot 70), Yoro, Martinez (sent-off 56), Shaw; Casemiro, Ugarte; Diallo (Mbeumo 70), Fernandez, Cunha; Sesko.
Leeds: Darlow; Justin, Bijol, Struijk; Bogle, Ampadu, Tanaka (Gruev 74), Gudmundsson; Aaronson (Longstaff 86), Okafor (Gnonto 74); Calvert-Lewin.
Referee: Paul Tierney
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