Manchester United never give up
Renowned for overturning the most compromised situations in extremis when coached by Alex Ferguson, Manchester United offered themselves a little whiff of nostalgia with this victory on the wire.
We were already playing the 3rd minute of added time when a final offensive led by the three substitutes of the day swung an undecided and tense match upside down.
Found by Cristiano Ronaldo in the direction of the game, Anthony Martial launched, at the limit of offside, Edinson Cavani, whose center with the line was pushed to the bottom by Rashford to capsize Old Trafford (1-0, 90 + 3).
With 38 points, United jumped to 4th place, ahead of their visitor of the day. Sunday, Tottenham, 6th with 36 points, traveling to Chelsea, or Arsenal, 7th with 35 units and which receives the Burnley red lantern, could take it back from him.
This final twist came to reward a match where Manchester United gradually increased the pressure, even if they had long feared that the goal would be denied to them.
The first half had been intense, but unspectacular and lacking in opportunity, with the first half seeing no shots on target.
The Hammers, with the return of Kurt Zouma in defense and Alphonse Areola in the cages, showed great defensive solidity, to the detriment of his counter power.
It was not until the 50th minute to see the former Paris SG goalkeeper make a very nice save on a shot from Fred who went into the top corner.
A few minutes later, a too uncrossed header from Raphaël Varane on a corner still sent shivers down the spine (59′).
In the 87th, the Czech Vladimir Soucek, on an action almost a carbon copy of that of Varane, almost showered Old Trafford.
But United went on the attack again and Ronaldo, then Martial, in pivot, still thought they had missed the boat before the final deliverance.
What also reward the audacity of Ralf Rangnick who had released a central midfielder, Fred, to bring in Cavani and force the decision.
With Burnley, Southampton, Leeds and Watford as their next opponents, all in the second half of the table, after the international break, Manchester will have a chance to tie themselves more firmly to the right wagon by the end of February.
Newcastle is moving again!
Saturday afternoon was also marked by Newcastle’s victory at Leeds (1-0), only its second this season. These three points totally relaunch the race for maintenance.
Jonjo Shelvey’s goal in the 75th minute leaves the Magpies in the red zone, 18th with 15 points, but associated with the victory (0-3) of Norwich (17th, 16 points) in Watford (18th, 14 points) , Friday, everything seems possible, even for Burnley, last with 11 units, but who have 3 to 5 games less than their rivals.
Even Everton (16th, 19 points), beaten at home against Aston Villa (0-1), seems far from out of the woods.
The match was marked by a new deplorable incident, a plastic bottle, thrown from the stands, after the Villans opener and which affected Lucas Digne, recently transferred from Everton to Villa and decisive passer on the goal, as well as his teammate Matty Cash.
Both players got up quickly and the game resumed. Shortly after the match, Everton announced the arrest of a supporter identified by security officers and CCTV cameras, who could be the author of the jet.
