MANCHESTER UNITED 3-0 BRENTFORD- MAN. UNITED BOOST EUROPEAN HOPES BY SWATING AWAY BEES AT OLD TRFORD.
Manchester United’s European hopes remain alive thanks to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Brentford, which saw the ‘Red Devils’ extend their unbeaten streak against the ‘Bees’ to seven in all competitions.
After an early Cristiano Ronaldo chance went begging, United flexed their attacking muscles and pulled in front inside ten minutes. Collecting the ball on the end of a darting run down the right-wing, Anthony Elanga fired in an inch-perfect cross towards the penalty spot, and waiting to side-foot home with aplomb was Bruno Fernandes, giving the home side the early lead after a fast-paced start. The hosts pushed to extend their lead, but the Brentford rearguard remained stubborn. Ronaldo thought he had put United two ahead on the stroke of HT, but the VAR revealed that the Portuguese forward was offside in the build up, leaving the ‘Bees’ firmly in the game at the break.
Brentford grew into the second half and pushed to equalise in the early moments. But it was United’s threat on the counter-attack which troubled the London club. On the hour mark the ‘Red Devils’ were given the chance to extend their lead from the penalty spot, after Ronaldo was taken down in the box by Rico Henry. Rondaldo himself stepped up the spot and coolly dispatched the spot-kick to double United’s lead, and extend his goal tally to 24 in all competitions. The game was all put to bed with just under 20 minutes remaining thanks to a Rapahël Varane strike from close-range, securing all three points in their last game at Old Trafford this season. A disappointing season at home ends with 10 wins out of 19.
Brentford’s impressive four-game unbeaten run came to an end at the ‘Theatre of Dreams’, but their eight point gap over the relegation zone will keep the Londoners in pole position to confirm their spot in the top-flight next season for just the second season in club history.
