Manchester United 3, Newcastle United 2
Kobbie Mainoo, Amad Diallo, and Rasmus Hojlund scored as Manchester United narrowly beat Newcastle United to take the race for Europe to the last day of the season.
United remain 8th but can capitalise on any slips by the Magpies in their final game of the season to pip them to 7th to give them a Europa Conference League place for next season.
The Reds produced an entertaining game at Old Trafford for their last home game of a mixed season.
Mainoo opened the scoring after 31 minutes – turning and firing past Martin Dubravka after Newcastle failed to cut out an Amad Diallo pass to him and Kieran Trippier played him onside.
Casemiro cleared Dan Burn’s header off the line and the Brazilian had an improved game but the Magpies were level soon after half time when a ball out of defence by Andre Onana was turned over by the Magpies and Jacob Murphy’s cross was turned in by Anthony Gordon.
United retook the lead after Murphy’s headed clearance from Bruno Fernandes’ corner fell to Amad Diallo who restored United’s lead with a great left footed strike.
Andre Onana tipped a Joelinton header over the bar while Miguel Almiron arrived too late to turn in a cross by Gordon as the game became frenetic.
But United calmed their nerves with a third goal after Bruno Fernandes found substitute Rasmus Hojlund who shrugged off Dan Burn and tucked the ball inside the back post.
Newcastle pulled another goal back in the 92nd minute after Casemiro failed to clear a corner and unmarked Lewis Hall thrashed in a goal from 22 yards out.
And Hall was at hand to deny Marcus Rashford a shooting chance laid on by Hojlund after Guimaraes couldn’t keep up with the break.
But there wasn’t enough time for the Magpies to respond again after the referee blew for full time on an entertaining game.
Embed from Getty ImagesPLAYER RATINGS – Manchester United 3, Newcastle United 2
Andre Onana: 6. Routine save from Lewis Hall, tipped.a Joelinton header over the bar and saved from the Brazilian late in the game.
Diogo Dalot: 6. Solid at left back.
Casemiro: 7. Partnered Jonny Evans. Indulgent overhead kick early on and had to be bailed out by Sofyan Amrabat. Headed Dan Burn’s header off the line and blocked Anthony Gordon in an improved defensive performance.
Jonny Evans: 6. Had to keep an eye on Alexander Isak.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka 6: Last home game for the full back.
Sofyan Amrabat: 7. Aggressive tackling and dropped into defence to help out. Last ditch tackle to stop goals by Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak.
Kobbie Mainoo: 7. Deep lying in midfield. Scored cracking goal after being set up by Amad Diallo but couldn’t sort out his feet when Bruno Fernandes set him up in the second half.
Scott McTominay: 6. Played high up with Bruno Fernandes, tame header saved by Martin Dubravka.
Amad Diallo: 8. Long range effort from the right saved by Martin Dubravka. Set up Kobbie Mainoo with good ball into the box before he scored one for himself in the second half to put United back in front.
Bruno Fernandes: 8. Pushed up as striker, dangerous at set pieces and putting balls into the box as always, hurt himself several times but carried on.
Alejandro Garnacho: 5. Looked jaded after 36 consecutive starts. Shot wide under pressure. Not much change from the Newcastle defence though.
Rasmus Hojlund (on for Amad Diallo, 82): no time to mark
Lisandro Martinez (on for Kobbie Mainoo, 82): no time to mark
Marcus Rashford (on for Alejandro Garnacho, 82): no time to mark
Christian Eriksen (on for Bruno Fernandes, 90): no time to mark
TEAM NEWS – Manchester United 3, Newcastle United 2
Bruno Fernandes returned from injury and replaced Rasmus Hojlund in the one change from Sunday’s defeat at the hands of Arsenal.
GOALS – Manchester United 3, Newcastle United 2
Man Utd 1, Newcastle Utd 0: 31. Kobbie Mainoo turned and fired past Martin Dubravka after receiving a pass through many players from Amad Diallo
Man Utd 1, Newcastle Utd 1: 48. Anthony Gordon finished from close range after Jacob Murphy’s deep cross found him in space following poor build up by United turned over by the Magpies.
Man Utd 2, Newcastle Utd 1: 57. Amad Diallo thrashed in a left footed strike after Jacob Murphy’s clearance from Bruno Fernandes’ corner fell to the winger.
Man Utd 3, Newcastle Utd 1: 84. Rasmus Hojlund shrugged off Dan Burn, created space for himself and tucked the ball inside the back post after Bruno Fernandes released him.
Man Utd 3. Newcastle Utd 2: 90+2. Lewis Hall’s 22 yard effort gave Newcastle hope after Casemiro cleared a Magpies corner only as far as the full back.
MATCH STATS – Manchester United 3, Newcastle United 2
Man Utd: Onana, Dalot, Casemiro, Evans, Wan-Bissaka, Sofyan Amrabat, Mainoo (Lisandro Martinez 82), McTominay, Diallo (Hojlund 82), Fernandes (C) (Eriksen 90), Garnacho (Rashford 82)
Man Utd Subs not used: Bayindir, Hojlund, Antony, Kambwala, Forson, Collyer
Booked: Casemiro 62; Amad 81; Amrabat 87 (foul on Harvey Barnes)
Goals: Mainoo 31; Diallo 57; Hojlund 84
Newcastle Utd: Dubravka, Trippier (Schar 63), Krafth, Burn, Hall, Guimaraes, S Longstaff (Barnes 77), Anderson (Joelinton 62), J Murphy (Almiron 62), Gordon, Isak
Newcastle Utd Subs not used: Pope, Dummett, Ritchie, White, A Murphy
Booked: Anderson 37 (foul on Scott McTominay); Gordon 68 (foul on Amad Diallo); Schar 78 (foul on Bruno Fernandes)
Goals: Gordon 48; Hall 90+2
Referee: Robert Jones