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LONDON – A goal after added time from Marcus Rashford allowed Manchester United to temporarily climb to 4th place in the Premier League, qualifying for the Champions League, against West Ham (1-0), Saturday for the 23rd day.
Manchester United never give up
Renowned for its victories in extremis under Alex Ferguson, Manchester United offered a breath of nostalgia with this victory on the wire.
In the 3rd minute of added time Cristiano Ronaldo found Anthony Martial who launched Edinson Cavani, whose cross with the line was pushed deep 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 capped Manchester United’s mounting pressure over a long disappointing game, with the first half seeing no shots on target.
It was not until the 50th minute to see Alphonse Areola, back in the cages, make a very nice save on a shot from Fred which went into the skylight.
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 identical to that of Varane, almost showered Old Trafford, but the deliverance ended up coming, after Ronaldo, then Martial, in pivot, believed to miss the boat .
What also reward the audacity of Ralf Rangnick who had released a central midfielder, Fred, to bring in Cavani and who saw the three substitutes, with Martial and Rashford, force the decision.
With Burnley (20th), Southampton (12th), Leeds (15th) and Watford (19th) as next opponents Manchester will have a chance to get on the right wagon by the end of February.
End of series for City
The 13th match will have brought bad luck to Manchester City, hooked by a valiant Southampton (1-1) after 12 rank successes in the league.
Not enough to grieve the men of Pep Guardiola, still 12 points ahead of Liverpool who go to Crystal Palace on Sunday. But the Reds, who are currently two games short, could potentially drop back to 6 points.
It was especially in the ignition that the Citizens were late, the Saints taking advantage of a good combination forward and above all a superb sequence of control from the left-outside strike from the right of Kyle Walker-Peters to open the score (1-0, 7th).
From the 25th minute, the match took on the appearance of a fairly classic attack-defense when City are on the pitch, but it was still necessary to wait for the 65th minute and a header from Aymeric Laporte to equalize (1 -1).
Too clumsy, with only 4 shots on target out of 20 attempts, the Mancunians will no doubt see in this draw a free warning and an invitation not to relax too quickly in the league.
Newcastle is moving again!
Saturday afternoon was also marked by Newcastle’s victory at Leeds (1-0), only its second this season.
Jonjo Shelvey’s goal in the 75th minute leaves the Magpies in the red zone, 18th with 15 points, but with victory (0-3) from Norwich (17th, 16 points) to Watford (18th, 14 points), Friday, the race to maintain is very open, 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), is not 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 fan who may have been responsible for the throwing.
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