Manchester United scored twice in the final 10 minutes at Elland Road to leave manager-less Leeds deep in relegation trouble.
Marcus Rashford broke the deadlock when he rose to meet Luke Shaw’s curling cross to head past Illan Meslier for his 21st goal of a superb season.
Substitute Alejandro Garnacho then outpaced the home defence before beating Meslier at his near post to the obvious joy of manager Erik ten Hag on the touchline.
The result was harsh on Leeds, who created a number of decent opportunities but could not beat visiting goalkeeper David de Gea.
It also turns the focus on football director Victor Orta, who is responsible for bringing in a replacement for Jesse Marsch, who was sacked last week.
Chief executive Angus Kinnear, who sat next to Orta in the directors’ box, pointed out in his programme notes that he understands the importance of a prompt replacement for Marsch, not least because chairman Andrea Radrizzani suggested last Tuesday it was imminent.
That work continues knowing if Everton win Monday’s Merseyside derby at Anfield, Leeds will drop into the bottom three.
Leeds fans’ song spoils atmosphere
For almost 45 minutes, the atmosphere was by some distance the best bit of an afternoon crackling with tension but lacking in quality.
Sadly, the electricity around the stadium took on a more sinister tone just before the break when a sizeable section of the Leeds fans to the left of the stand behind De Gea’s goal sang the ‘Munich’ song, about the Manchester United air crash in 1958 which resulted in the death of 23 passengers, including eight players.
On the pitch, in stoppage time before the interval, Meslier produced an excellent feet-first save to deny Bruno Fernandes, who had run beyond the Leeds defence after blocking Max Wober’s intended pass.
From the subsequent corner, the ball bounced off Luke Ayling and narrowly wide of the far post, with Rashford inches away from being able to convert.
It was thoroughly in keeping with the general mood around Elland Road that Jadon Sancho and Tyrrell Malacia were the subject of ferocious, but fair, early Leeds tackles.
Ayling and Malacia had a grabbing match as the Leeds man kept hold of the ball when his opponent tried to snatch it from him to take a quick throw, and Leeds duo Junior Firpo and Weston McKennie and Manchester United’s Fred were all booked as referee Paul Tierney tried to regain control.
More to follow.
Player of the match
RashfordMarcus Rashford
Leeds United
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Squad number10Player nameSummervilleAverage rating
6.07
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Squad number2Player nameAylingAverage rating
5.97
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Squad number29Player nameGnonto
Average rating5.85
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Squad number1Player nameMeslier
Average rating5.84
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Squad number12Player nameAdams
Average rating5.72
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Squad number11Player nameHarrison
Average rating5.66
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Squad number5Player nameKoch
Average rating5.56
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Squad number28Player nameMcKennie
Average rating5.53
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Squad number39Player nameWöber
Average rating5.51
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Squad number3Player nameFirpo
Average rating5.37
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Squad number7Player nameAaronson
Average rating5.11
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Squad number9Player nameBamford
Average rating5.11
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Squad number42Player nameGreenwood
Average rating4.83
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Squad number24Player nameRutter
Average rating4.80
Manchester United
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Squad number10Player nameRashfordAverage rating
7.88
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Squad number49Player nameGarnachoAverage rating
7.59
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Squad number1Player namede GeaAverage rating
7.36
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Squad number6Player nameLi MartínezAverage rating
7.28
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Squad number23Player nameShawAverage rating
7.05
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Squad number29Player nameWan-BissakaAverage rating
6.83
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Squad number17Player nameFredAverage rating
6.57
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Squad number25Player nameSanchoAverage rating
6.55
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Squad number15Player nameSabitzerAverage rating
6.55
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Squad number8Player nameBruno FernandesAverage rating
6.52
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Squad number27Player nameWeghorstAverage rating
6.47
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Squad number20Player nameDiogo DalotAverage rating
6.47
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Squad number12Player nameMalaciaAverage rating
6.45
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Squad number36Player nameElangaAverage rating
6.03
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Squad number5Player nameMaguireAverage rating
5.78
Line-ups
Leeds
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Meslier
- 2Ayling
- 5Koch
- 39Wöber
- 3FirpoBooked at 18mins
- 28McKennieBooked at 40minsSubstituted forGreenwoodat 86′minutes
- 12Adams
- 10Summerville
- 11HarrisonSubstituted forAaronsonat 73′minutes
- 29Gnonto
- 9BamfordSubstituted forRutterat 58′minutes
Substitutes
- 7Aaronson
- 18Gyabi
- 22Robles
- 24Rutter
- 25Kristensen
- 34Pinheiro Monteiro
- 42Greenwood
- 49Fernández
- 62Chilokoa-Mullen
Man Utd
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1de Gea
- 20DalotSubstituted forWan-Bissakaat 73′minutes
- 5Maguire
- 23Shaw
- 12MalaciaSubstituted forLi Martínezat 61′minutes
- 15Sabitzer
- 17FredBooked at 21mins
- 25SanchoSubstituted forGarnachoat 61′minutes
- 8Bruno Fernandes
- 10RashfordSubstituted forElangaat 90+1′minutes
- 27Weghorst
Substitutes
- 2Lindelöf
- 6Li Martínez
- 19Varane
- 22Heaton
- 28Pellistri
- 29Wan-Bissaka
- 36Elanga
- 49Garnacho
- 55Iqbal
- Referee:
- Paul Tierney
- Attendance:
- 36,919
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, Leeds United 0, Manchester United 2.
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Second Half ends, Leeds United 0, Manchester United 2.
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VAR Decision: No Goal Leeds United 0-2 Manchester United.
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Offside, Manchester United. Harry Maguire tries a through ball, but Wout Weghorst is caught offside.
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Attempt blocked. Harry Maguire (Manchester United) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Anthony Elanga.
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Attempt missed. Anthony Elanga (Manchester United) with an attempt from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Bruno Fernandes with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Maximilian Wöber.
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Substitution, Manchester United. Anthony Elanga replaces Marcus Rashford.
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VAR Decision: No Goal Leeds United 0-2 Manchester United.
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Offside, Manchester United. Bruno Fernandes tries a through ball, but Marcus Rashford is caught offside.
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Attempt saved. Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Luke Shaw.
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Attempt blocked. Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Bruno Fernandes.
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Attempt missed. Maximilian Wöber (Leeds United) header from the centre of the box misses to the left following a corner.
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Corner, Leeds United. Conceded by Luke Shaw.
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Attempt blocked. Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
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Attempt blocked. Wilfried Gnonto (Leeds United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Sam Greenwood with a cross.
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Corner, Leeds United. Conceded by Wout Weghorst.
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Attempt blocked. Maximilian Wöber (Leeds United) header from the centre of the box is blocked.
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Foul by Luke Shaw (Manchester United).
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Wilfried Gnonto (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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