Manchester United secured a vital 2-1 away win over Aston Villa, earning a long-awaited triumph away from top-tier opponents.

Aston Villa suffered a loss against Manchester United by a margin of 2-1. Manchester United won their first away league match under Erik ten Hag thanks to a goal scored by Scott McTominay in the last minutes of the match. The race for a berth in the Champions League was totally thrown into chaos as a result of this loss.

With a three-game winning streak in all competitions, Manchester United were ready to take the field at Villa Park. A spectacular sliding tackle by Diogo Dalot on Jacob Ramsey was made in the little over a minute of play.

First Half

After five minutes, Bruno Fernandes’ brilliant through pass to Rasmus Hojlund was offside, spoiling United‘s first genuine scoring chance. As Villa seemed to be scoring, Casemiro sprinted in to give United the ball, and Rashford, Garnacho, and Hojlund pushed forward. United were unable to create any threat despite Rashford’s right-wing ball to Garnacho deflecting for a corner. Erik ten Hag’s team must strive harder to become more threatening in set pieces.

11 minutes in, Hojlund and Fernandes played a one-two, cutting into the area, with Villa’s defence narrowly denying Hojlund and sending the ball out for a corner. United undoubtedly appeared to be the more dangerous team early on. Villa attempted another rapid counterattack, but Dalot dispossessed Leon Bailey on the edge of the box with another fantastic sliding tackle. Dalot shown tremendous attentiveness within the first few minutes of play.

Rasmus Hojlund scored again 16 minutes in. The ball went to Hojlund after Harry Maguire headed home a corner kick. Danish striker needed just to guide the ball into the net to score his fourth Premier League goal in four outings. Seven minutes later, Ollie Watkins passed to John McGinn, who shot dangerously that Andre Onana deflected around the post for a corner. Watkins struck close following the corner, and Onana heroically tried to save to keep United ahead.

Half an hour in, Watkins appeared to be through on goal, outpacing Raphael Varane, United’s last defender. Fortunately, Onana was quick to depart his area, saving the ball from harm. Casemiro received a yellow card for tackling Matty Cash, who was sprinting at high speed. On closer observation, it appeared that Cash dived, with Casemiro making little contact.Despite Casemiro’s protests, the referee refused to hear them.

Onana saved a long-range shot from McGinn on halftime, but his body went out of contact, allowing the home team a corner. United defeated the threat after four minutes of extra time. Two minutes into stoppage time, United pressured Villa’s backline and won a corner. The corner was squandered, but Kobbie Mainoo was yellow carded for seeming to gently pull down a Villa player on the counterattack.

Second Half

Before the restart, Victor Lindelof replaced Luke Shaw. Shaw was most likely pulled off due to injury, since Harry Maguire was seen signalling for a switch shortly before the end of the first half. Watkins burst into the heart of the box two minutes into the half, taking a shot that Onana was able to deflect away. United would need to tighten up at the back to prevent the home team from tying the score.

After United’s corner kick was punted out, Mainoo delivered a dangerous long ball to Fernandes, who appeared to be moving. Martinez stopped United’s captain from increasing his team’s lead. Villa pressed again 10 minutes into the half, forcing Lindelof to clear a Bailley cross for a corner. United reacted after Rashford delayed too long to respond, so Garnacho’s pass was easily handled.Most of the game, the left-winger was sluggish. Rashford played the ball into the box after failing, earning United a corner.

Once again, the Villa defence handled the corner with ease. Ten Hag clearly has a lot of work to do in training to improve his team’s corner performance. With 25 minutes remaining, Villa increased the pressure, earning back-to-back corners. Following a sequence of volleyball-like deflections, the ball fell to Douglas Luiz, who smashed it into the goal from close range to tie the game for Villa.

In the 73rd minute, Scott McTominay replaced Marcus Rashford, who had a terrible performance. Villa nearly seized the lead three minutes later when Luiz took a shot that Dalot saved. While the loose ball dropped to Moussa Diaby, Onana made an excellent save. With nine minutes remaining, Garnacho received a Fernandes through pass and carried it into the penalty area. His grounded attempt, however, was comfortably stopped, putting an end to a promising potential for a late winner.

Five minutes from the final whistle, superb sub Scott McTominay scored again, heading in a Dalot cross to restore United’s lead. While United’s attention lapsed throughout the game, Ten Hag’s players eventually showed the drive late on to achieve a long-overdue win away from home against top-nine opponents.

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