X reacts as Scott McTominay steals victory for Man Utd against Aston Villa
- McTominay came off the bench to decide a 2-1 win in the 86th minute
- Aston Villa had been on top for large swathes of Sunday's game
- Man Utd only trail the Premier League's top five by five points
How long can Scott McTominay remain Manchester United's 'unlikely' hero?
The divisive midfielder emerged from the bench to head in an 86th-minute winner against Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon, reigniting United's ambitions of Champions League qualification.
McTominay's seventh league goal of the season - a figure unrivalled among United's squad - closed the gap to fifth-placed Villa to just five points with 14 games of the campaign remaining. Tottenham Hotspur are only one point better off but a spot inside the top five may be enough to qualify for Europe's premier club competition this season.
United's bright start offered little evidence that another late show would be required.
After ending a 1,026-minute wait to score his first Premier League goal in the reverse fixture against Villa at Old Trafford, Rasmus Hojlund described himself as "the happiest man alive right now".
When he cleverly tucked in Harry Maguire's knockdown from a first-half corner, Hojlund trotted across to the corner flag with a sense of assured confidence. With a goal in each of his five previous appearances, Hojlund's finishing was no longer fallible but inevitable.
Rasmus Hojlund has well and truly arrived.
— Odds On CBA (@OddsOnFPL) February 11, 2024
At this point, I’m convinced my Hojlund might win the golden boot pic.twitter.com/XbVOmD1JEL
— AveiroBrains🌎 (@Aveiro_dun) February 11, 2024
YOU MUST APOLOGIZE, HOJLUND IS THE GOATTT
— Trey (@UTDTrey) February 11, 2024
During an entertaining first half stuffed with chances, most fans were taken by Casemiro's reaction to getting booked. The Brazilian was aghast at the sight of a yellow card in Robert Jones' raised hand, windmilling his arms and pirouetting in disgust.
Tremendous physical comedy from Casemiro there trying to plead his way out of getting a yellow, but also make sure it doesn't count as dissent so he gets a booking anyway.
— Carl Anka (@Ankaman616) February 11, 2024
Casemiro booked for not touching Cash. Cash not booked for stamping on Casemiro's foot late. Make it make sense
— Mark Goldbridge (@markgoldbridge) February 11, 2024
Casemiro's antics weren't for everyone.
That Casemiro reaction is so obviously going to be a meme that I’m already bored of it.
— Seb Stafford-Bloor (@SebSB) February 11, 2024
Not only was Hojlund scoring but Andre Onana had steered out of his personal nosedive during an impressive and busy opening 45 minutes. United's goalkeeper has come under unrelenting criticism during his debut season in Manchester and received little respite at the Africa Cup of Nations, where he was dropped as Cameroon's number-one in place of his cousin who plies his trade in the French third-tier.
However, Onana was a match for the onslaught Villa steered his way.
The disparity in Onana's PL and CL form this season has finished me. How can he look competent in the Prem yet dropped one of the worst CL campaigns ever in the same season ffs
— 🔗 (@Gideoomatic) February 11, 2024
Onana been excellent so far, United been awful since scoring and need to get some control back ASAP
— Aaron Moniz (@amonizfootball) February 11, 2024
Onana could only stand firm for so long. United's revitalised shot-stopper had made two further saves from point-blank range after the break but could do nothing about Douglas Luiz's finish into the top corner from all of six yards.
Holding the kneeling position that he landed in when sweeping Villa level in the 67th minute, Luiz celebrated with a jaunty shake of his shoulders. Raphael Varane was bemused but the internet was bewitched.
Celebration for the ages from Douglas Luiz.
— Amos Murphy (@AmosMurphy_) February 11, 2024
Totally unhinged Barclay’s behaviour. pic.twitter.com/fpSE5biQq5
Douglas Luiz: pic.twitter.com/yWLY43Tt4x
— Carl Carpenter (@CarlonCarpenter) February 11, 2024
In the good old days of twitter, someone would have set up an account called 'Douglas Luiz's shimmy' by now
— Richard Amofa (@RichardAmofa) February 11, 2024
Nah Douglas Luiz celebration has me in tears. Did that man just do the shimmy shoulders
— Moyo Jordan Ajibade (@YourBoyMoyo) February 11, 2024
The match appeared to be ebbing towards a tame conclusion when Kobbie Mainoo collected the ball on the right wing in the final five minutes. A sharp shuffle of feet shifted the ball into Diogo Dalot's stride, allowing the right-back to swing a first-time cross into the box.
Naturally, McTominay was lurking with intent. A midfielder whose 'smell for goal' has been lauded by Erik ten Hag all season added another to his tally.
That McTominay dagger was so obvious. How do United keep doing this? 😂
— Phil Costa (@_PhilCosta) February 11, 2024
Scott McTominay when Man Utd need a late goal: pic.twitter.com/FXgH0V21Di
— Project Football (@ProjectFootball) February 11, 2024
Honestly, I don't want to see any Scott McTominay slander on my TL ever again. It's so predictable. Every time he comes on, I see the usual nonsense. And he almost always produces.
— Graham Ruthven (@grahamruthven) February 11, 2024
READ THE LATEST PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS, RUMOURS & GOSSIP
feed