Noah Okafor became an instant Leeds United hero with a brace at Old Trafford, as the visitors celebrated their first Premier League win against Manchester United in over 23 years. The Swedish forward put Leeds ahead in the fifth minute with a sensational finish, then grabbed his second near the half-hour mark with a well-taken volley.
Lisandro Martínez then saw red in the 56th minute for pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s hair, leaving United with 10 men. Casemiro headed one back in the 69th minute to set up a grandstand finish, but Leeds held firm for a massive three points that boosted their survival hopes and dealt a heavy blow to United’s Champions League ambitions.
Rating every Manchester United player after the loss against Leeds United:
Senne Lammens – 5/10 Lammens started between the sticks and faced a Leeds side that played with real intent from the first whistle. He stopped a couple of routine efforts but stood no chance against either of Okafor’s strikes, both of which were made possible by poor defensive cover ahead of him.
Noussair Mazraoui – 5/10 Mazraoui started at right-back with Diogo Dalot out through illness, and he struggled to keep the visitors quiet on his flank during the opening 45 minutes. He looked a bit better after the red card but was replaced by Dalot in the 70th minute without having much of an impact.
Leny Yoro – 6/10 Yoro was the most composed member of United’s back four and held his own in the air. He couldn’t fix the mess Martínez left behind after the red card, but he stayed disciplined and barely gave Calvert-Lewin a sniff.
Lisandro Martínez – 2/10 Martínez returned from injury only for his night to end in disaster. He was sent off in the 56th minute for pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s hair, which was a moment of madness that gave Leeds the man advantage and effectively killed the game. United fought hard after he left the pitch, but Martínez left Michael Carrick with a mountain to climb.
Luke Shaw – 5/10 Shaw put in the miles defensively on the left, but Okafor still managed to find pockets of space in areas Shaw should have shut down. He gave it everything in the second half, but the damage was done long before he found his rhythm.
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Manuel Ugarte – 6/10 Ugarte started in midfield instead of Kobbie Mainoo and was actually one of the few bright spots. He won his share of 50/50s, screened the backline well, and kept the ball moving in tight spaces. On a tough night for the team, Ugarte gave Carrick something positive to think about.
Casemiro – 7/10 Casemiro was United’s best player on the night. He drove the team forward in the second half and gave the fans hope with a header in the 69th minute. His energy and leadership kept United in the fight during a desperate closing period.
Amad Diallo – 5/10 Diallo showed glimpses of his talent but couldn’t find the spark United needed in the first half. He was swapped for Bryan Mbeumo in the 70th minute, having spent most of the night on the fringes when the team needed him to step up.
Bruno Fernandes – 5/10 Fernandes cut a frustrated figure and never really took control of the game. He worked hard off the ball, but his final pass felt rushed and ultimately fell short against a Leeds side that was well-organised and committed.
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Matheus Cunha – 5/10 Cunha showed a few touches of class and tried to link up the play, but Leeds pressed him into mistakes and cut off his passing lanes in the first half. He never really got going and faded as the match went on, leaving the attack looking isolated.
Benjamin Sesko – 5/10 Sesko returned from injury but found it tough going against a physical Leeds defence. His hold-up play wasn’t up to its usual standard, and he rarely tested Darlow, eventually becoming a passenger in a struggling United frontline.
Substitutes – Diogo Dalot & Bryan Mbeumo (both 5/10) Both came on in the 70th minute and added some energy to United’s late charge. However, neither could find the bit of magic required to salvage a point.
