Super subs Fred and Anthony Elanga came off the bench to fire Manchester United to a 4-2 win over Leeds United in a classic at Elland Road.
With torrential rain providing testing conditions, Cristiano Ronaldo was denied at close-range by a great stop from Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier before Man Utd went ahead through Harry Maguire’s header from a Luke Shaw corner on 34 minutes.
Bruno Fernandes doubled the Red Devils’ advantage with another headed goal from Jadon Sancho’s cross in first-half stoppage time.
The introduction of Leeds’ duo Joe Gelhardt and Raphinha at half-time turned the match on its head.
Rodrigo pulled a goal back with a 53rd-minute cross that looped beyond David De Gea inside the far post and Leeds were level at 2-2 within 60 seconds when Raphinha slid in to convert Daniel James’ delivery.
On an afternoon of impact substitutions, Fred and Elanga came on to settle the match in Man Utd’s favour.
Fred superbly fired in from Sancho’s 70th-minute pass before Elanga slotted home from Fernandes’s assist.
Back-to-back wins put fourth-placed Man Utd on 46 points, four points above West Ham United, in fifth. Leeds remain 15th on 23 points, five points off the relegation zone.
Next fixtures
Leeds: 23 Feb v Liverpool (A)
Man Utd: 26 Feb v Watford (H)
Match officials
Referee: Paul Tierney. Assistants: Lee Betts, Neil Davies. Fourth official: Mike Dean. VAR: Chris Kavanagh. Assistant VAR: Adam Nunn.
Discussion about this post