Erik ten Hag’s men had lost three of the four games they’ve played when midfield linchpin Casemiro was unavailable this term, and it didn’t take long for those vulnerabilities to be on show once more. The visitors stunned Old Trafford into silence by racing into the lead after just 55 seconds, with Patrick Bamford teeing up Wilfried Gnonto to drive past David De Gea at the Stretford End.
Things could’ve got worse for the Red Devils too, had De Gea not been on hand to deny Pascal Struijk’s point-blank header. Eventually, the hosts did wake up though and began to assert pressure on the Leeds goal. Alejandro Garnacho was proving the main threat and the 18-year-old ought to have levelled after being found by Bruno Fernandes inside the area, only to miss the target with the goal at his mercy. That would be a common theme, as Garnacho rounded Illan Meslier only for his shot to be headed away by Maximilian Wöber.
After starting the first half so well, Leeds repeated the act after the restart to double their advantage. Further vulnerabilities were evident as the hosts failed to clear their lines, and the Whites capitalised when Crysencio Summerville’s low cross was inadvertently deflected past his own goalkeeper by Raphaël Varane.
United were now staring down the barrel of a first home defeat since September, but Marcus Rashford was typically the man to give them hope of a miraculous comeback. The first player to score in six consecutive home league games for the club since Wayne Rooney in 2012, Rashford powered his header beyond Meslier to lift the atmosphere and set up a blockbuster final half-hour.
The pendulum had now completely swung, and less than 10 minutes after pulling one back, United were level. Second-half substitute Jadon Sancho scored for the first time since returning to the first-team fold, rifling home after being the first to react to a loose ball inside the area. A situation United have so often found themselves in down the years, a winning goal seemed inevitable, but Meslier had other ideas as he made a remarkable save to deny Varane a decisive goal. Disappointment for the hosts, while Leeds created a one-point buffer between themselves and the drop zone in their first game under the temporary stewardship of Michael Skubala.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Maximilian Wöber (Leeds United)
