Man Utd 2-2 Leeds: Player ratings as Sancho equaliser rescues Red Devils
Manchester United had Jadon Sancho’s first Premier League goal since 1 September to thank for sparing their blushes in a 2-2 comeback draw against manager-less Leeds at Old Trafford.
Leeds made an unexpected dream start when Wilfried Gnonto silenced the Old Trafford crowd inside the opening minute, before a Raphael Varane own goal made it 2-0. But Marcus Rashford continued his outstanding form, before Sancho coolly slotted home
Gnonto’s early strike was impressive. A combination of Tyler Adams and Pascal Struijk won possession from Bruno Fernandes in the hosts’ half, with the goalscorer playing a sharp one-two with Patrick Bamford to manoeuvre the ball infrom the left flank before firing low.
Leeds even threatened to double their lead not long after when only David de Gea’s fingertips denied Pascal Struijk a headed goal at the far post.
Erik ten Hag’s side struggled to hit the target in the opening stages, with Marcel Sabitzer and Alejandro Garnacho both narrowly missing from decent positions. When Garnacho did hit the target midway through the first half, Leeds had a goal-line block from Maximilian Wober to thank after the United teenager rounded Illan Meslier and sat down Luke Ayling.
Having earlier had a few sighters, Sabitzer struck from 25 yards to force Meslier into a top save as United continued to up the pressure as the first half progressed.
Gnonto remained a thorn in the side, however, and his eyes lit up when the ball sat up kindly for him. But a crunching block tackle from Lisandro Martinez stopped the winger in his tracks.
Leeds started the second half how they had begun the first and extended the lead in not dissimilar fashion to the opening goal. As a move threatened to break down and United attempted to counter, Leeds players swarmed Garnacho, with Jack Harrison getting a foot in and then Robin Koch sliding in Gnonto on the left. He moved the ball on to Crysencio Summerville, whose attempt at a low cross ended up being inadvertently turned in by Varane.
United got back into it moments after Ten Hag had made changes form the bench and switched things around. Making his Premier League debut, Facundo Pellistri was involved in chasing a seemingly lost cause, laying back to Dalot to cross. Rashford leapt highest in the middle.
Leeds still posed a danger, though, when Brenden Aaronson struck the base of the post with a curling free-kick. Yet the next goal was to be the equaliser rather than one to extend the lead any futher. This time, it came from United’s left, with Luke Shaw bursting forward and the ball eventually falling nicely for Sancho to steer into the far bottom corner.
Varane almost made up for his own goal with a powerful header that Meslier was equal to, while the French goalkeeper also collected the ball under pressure as Rashford attempted to flick a Bruno Fernandes cross goalward from close range and Leeds held on.
Man Utd player ratings (4-2-3-1)
GK: David de Gea - 5/10 - Needed to make a smart early save but didn't always seem the most convincing display overall.
RB: Diogo Dalot - 7/10 - Back in for the unwell Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Got forward much better in the second half and assisted as Rashford pulled the first goal back.
CB: Raphael Varane - 6/10 - Scored an own goal but was otherwise fairly solid.
CB: Lisandro Martinez - 6/10 - Didn't shy away from the physical battle.
LB: Luke Shaw - 7/10 - Had more space to play in once Garnacho went off and allowed him to get forward to make Sancho's equaliser.
CM: Marcel Sabitzer - 6/10 - Handed a full United debut in place of Casemiro. Neat enough on the ball for the most part but something was lacking.
CM: Fred - 5/10 - Suddenly looked more like his old inconsistent self without his fellow countryman alongside him. Squandered a few late shooting chances.
RM: Marcus Rashford - 8/10 - Less effective on the right than his usual role on the left. Made his mark with a towering header after going into the 'number nine' position. Led by example in the second half as he carried his team to the draw.
AM: Bruno Fernandes (c) - 7/10 - Put in the hard work and still made chances, having improved significantly in the second half.
LM: Alejandro Garnacho - 7/10 - Played with huge confidence. Some things worked, some didn't.
ST: Wout Weghorst - 5/10 - A thankless task occupying the Leeds centre-backs and barely even saw the ball.
Substitutes
SUB: Jadon Sancho (59' for Weghorst) - 8/10
SUB: Facundo Pellistri (59' for Garnacho) - 7/10
SUB: Tyrell Malacia (82' for Dalot) - 6/10
SUB: Victor Lindelof (82 for Sabitzer) - 6/10
Manager
Erik ten Hag - 7/10 - Will have been disappointed by the slow start he witnessed. Switching things around at the hour mark brought his team back from the dead.
Leeds player ratings (4-2-3-1)
GK: Illan Meslier - 8/10 - Made a few decent saves that ultimately secured a point.
RB: Luke Ayling (c) - 6/10 - Just about kept Garnacho under wraps but was later off the pace wehn United equalised down his side. Looked exhausted by the end.
CB: Robin Koch - 6/10 - Made the second Leeds goal with vision to play the ball into space out wide. On his heels when leaping with Rashford when United scored their first.
CB: Maximilian Wober - 6/10 - Made a vital goal-line block at 1-0 that would have brough United back into it an awful lot sooner.
LB: Pascal Struijk - 7/10 - Instrumental in making the early goal possible. Later needed lengthy treatment after taking a powerful shot from Rashford full in the face and couldn't continue.
CM: Tyler Adams - 7/10 - Battled hard with plenty of energy.
CM: Weston McKennie - 7/10 - Sloppy in possession but better on the defensive side of the ball.
RM: Luis Sinisterra - N/A - Lasted only eight minutes due to injury.
AM: Jack Harrison - 6/10 - Wasteful in good areas more than once, but helped make the second goal by nicking the ball off Garnacho.
LM: Wilfried Gnonto - 8/10 - Gave Leeds a dream start with a really well-taken goal, engineering the opportunity himself. Remained a threat and involved in the second goal too.
ST: Patrick Bamford - 7/10 - Linked up well with Gnonto for the breakthrough goal.
Substitutes
SUB: Crysencio Summerville (8' for Sinisterra) - 6/10
SUB: Junior Firpo (23' for Struijk) - 6/10
SUB: Brenden Aaronson (64' for Harrison) - 7/10
SUB: Georginio Rutter (64' for Bamford) - 6/10
SUB: Sam Greenwood (90' for McKennie) - N/A
SUB: Mateo Joseph (90' for Gnonto) - N/A
Manager
Michael Skubala - 8/10 - Thrust into the hotseat following Marsch's dismissal and forced into two first half changes due to injury. But injected the necessary energy and tempo into the performance.