Premier League
AS RACE FOR TOP 4 HEIGHTENS, MANCHESTER UNITED EXTEND UNBEATEN RUN
Manchester United kept up the heat on the top four as the Reds cruised to a 3-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium thanks to another Bruno Fernandes-inspired display. In so doing, the Red devils have also extended their unbeaten run to eight Premiership league matches.
The Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side are back up to fifth place with 52 points. A brace form Fernandes, including a second-half volley to round off a stunning counterattack, followed a first-half strike from Mason Greenwood to help to clinch a first win for the club away at Brighton since 1982.
The victory at the Amex means United have now gone 15 games unbeaten in all competitions, including three wins and a draw since the restart earlier this month.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side move up to fifth in the table ahead of Wolverhampton Wanderers on goal difference and just two points behind fourth-placed Chelsea and only three behind third-placed Leicester City, although both teams have a game in hand.
United kicked-off on the South Coast and quickly set about putting our plan into action, controlling the ball inside the Brighton half of the field. However, it was the home side who produced the first shot of the evening when Dale Stephens fired well over the bar from distance after the ball dropped to the him from a Harry Maguire clearance.
The Reds came close to taking the lead themselves in the 13th minute when Fernandes struck the woodwork with a venomous low effort. Maguire got the move going with a delightful diagonal ball to Aaron Wan-Bissaka, before the full-back worked it to Paul Pogba who offloaded to Fernandes.
As the ball rebounded back off the post Pogba was first to it, but the Frenchman couldn’t keep his follow-up down. Ole’s side continued to build pressure around the box and there were shouts from the United bench for a penalty when Marcus Rashford went down in the area under the challenge of Dan Bunn, but referee Andre Marriner was unmoved – as was VAR.
The onslaught continued and the Seagulls’s resolve was broken by the inspired run of Greenwood on 16 minutes. The young forward burst into the box, danced past Lewis Dunk, who was making his 300th appearance for the club, and stroked the ball left-footed into the bottom corner.
A well-deserved lead might have been doubled when Pogba was brought down just outside the Brighton penalty area following some intense pressing from United, though Fernandes lifted the free-kick over the bar. Maguire too went close soon after, heading a corner back across goal but just wide to bring up the first drinks break.
Any fears that the brief interval may disrupt the rhythm of the Reds was short lived. Luke Shaw broke along the near touchline and drove a cross into the middle that was crying out for an attacker to meet it.
Although the ball was cleared, it was recovered almost immediately and Pogba was able to play it to Fernandes. The Portuguese unleashed an effort from the edge of the area that deflected and flew past Mathew Ryan and into the back of the net to give the Reds a 2-0 advantage.
Five minutes into the second half Fernandes had another. Swift out the blocks once again United had the hosts on the back foot, allowing Greenwood to turn provider and swing an inch-perfect cross to Fernandes at the far post. Having already proved his eye for goal the Portuguese attacker made no mistake, converting on the volley from close range for his sixth goal for the club and certainly the pick of our three on the night.
Although still firmly in control, United were just beginning to let Brighton in around the hour-mark, with Leandro Trossard having a couple of chances. In response Ole looked to freshen things up with a triple change of Scott McTominay, Andreas Pereira and Brandon Williams for Pogba, Fernandes and Shaw on 64 minutes.
David De Gea was called into action for the first time in the match when Aaron Connolly stuck a firm shot towards the top right corner 21 minutes from time, but the Spaniard was alive to the danger and brilliantly tipped the ball over. Six minutes later and De Gea again denied the hosts with a strong right glove to keep out substitute Neal Maupay’s deflected effort.
Brighton continued to press to find a consolation goal but go no reward, allowing the Reds to regain dominance in the final 10 minutes. Substitutes McTominay and Daniel James will consider themselves unlucky not to have added to the goal tally after seeing shots saved by Ryan, but that takes nothing away from a very comfortable display for the Reds which increases our unbeaten run to 15 games.
England and Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has been handed a 15-month suspended prison sentence by a Greek court over a 2020 incident in Mykonos, Sky Sports reported on Wednesday.
In 2020, Maguire was found guilty of repeated bodily harm, attempted bribery and violence against public employees after his arrest in a brawl in which two police officers were assaulted.
Maguire, who was detained for two days following the incident and denied any wrongdoing, was handed a suspended prison sentence of 21 months and 10 days but was granted a full retrial after appealing against Greek court convictions on multiple charges.
In accordance with the Greek judicial process, the filing nullified Maguire’s conviction before a full retrial in a more senior court. His retrial was postponed many times.
Maguire faced allegations of non-serious assault, resisting arrest and attempted bribery. The 32-year-old was convicted on all three counts but will face no prison time. His legal team will appeal against the guilty verdict, Sky Sports reported.
Maguire’s brother Joe and friend Christopher Sharman were also found guilty of offences related to the incident and received suspended prison sentences in 2020. They also denied any wrongdoing.
-Reuters
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Arsenal maintained control of the Premier League title race as they chiselled out a nervy 2-1 win over London rivals Chelsea to open up a five-point lead at the top of the table on Sunday.
Jurrien Timber’s 66th-minute header from a Declan Rice corner ensured Arsenal took three precious points, but it was a nervy afternoon in north London.
Mikel Arteta’s side moved to 64 points from 29 games, with Manchester City, who have played a game fewer, on 59.
Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber celebrates scoring their second goal with Gabriel Magalhaes REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Defender William Saliba had given Arsenal the lead in the 21st minute from a trademark corner routine.
But it had looked as though an own goal by Piero Hincapie just before halftime would prove costly for the hosts until Timber came to their rescue.
Chelsea, whose six-match unbeaten league sequence under new manager Liam Rosenior was halted, ended the match with 10 men after Pedro Neto was sent off for a second yellow card.
-Reuters
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Premier League
Manchester United climb to third in Premier League table with come-from-behind win over Palace
Manchester United produced a stirring second-half comeback to defeat Crystal Palace 2–1 at Old Trafford on Sunday, with captain Bruno Fernandes inspiring the turnaround that lifted the hosts into third place in the Premier League standings.
Trailing inside four minutes after a dominant start by Palace, United responded through a Fernandes penalty before his pinpoint free-kick was headed home by Benjamin Sesko to seal victory against the 10-man visitors.
The win extended interim manager Michael Carrick’s unbeaten run to seven matches since taking charge in mid-January. United now have 51 points from 28 games and are unbeaten since the January 5 dismissal of Ruben Amorim, climbing into third for the first time since May 2023. Palace remain 14th on 35 points.
“It feels like a big result, we were behind and had to show some character,” Fernandes told Sky Sports. “There are a lot of games to go still, and it is important that we don’t feel that we are in the position that we need to be. We need to make as many points as we can.”
Palace, under Oliver Glasner, were electric in the opening half hour, capitalising on sluggish United play. Defender Maxence Lacroix powered home a header from a corner after muscling past Leny Yoro, scoring the earliest goal United have conceded this season.
The visitors nearly doubled their advantage when Daniel Munoz latched onto an Ismaila Sarr through ball, but goalkeeper Senne Lammens produced a crucial save.
United gradually found their rhythm before the break. Sesko forced Dean Henderson into action with a header from a Fernandes cross, and the Palace keeper also tipped a Fernandes free kick over the bar.
The turning point arrived in the 57th minute when Fernandes converted from the penalty spot after Matheus Cunha was dragged down by Lacroix. Following a lengthy VAR review, Lacroix was shown a red card, reducing Palace to 10 men.
Eight minutes later, Fernandes’ delivery again proved decisive as Sesko rose highest to nod home the winning goal.
United pushed for a third, with Casemiro’s volley drawing a diving save from Henderson and substitute Amad Diallo testing the keeper from distance in stoppage time. Joshua Zirkzee saw efforts blocked, while Kobbie Mainoo’s fierce strike drifted narrowly wide.
Carrick praised his team’s resilience. “The biggest thing for us to take from the game is really the first time that we have been in that situation going in at halftime,” he said. “Being in that position and how we react and showing that personality and belief… to then come back as we did in the second half is the biggest thing for me today.”
Palace pressed late but could not find an equaliser. Glasner admitted his side had let the game slip. “It feels like there was more possible today. A great first 30 minutes, but the red card changed it completely. The second goal just happened too quickly.”
For United, the victory reinforces growing belief under Carrick that a top-four finish—and a return to Europe’s elite competition—is firmly within reach.
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