Manchester United never trailed in a 3-2 win over Newcastle United at Old Trafford on Wednesday that boosted the Red Devils’ hopes for European football next season.
Amad Diallo had a goal and an assist, Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Hojlund also scored, and Bruno Fernandes got his eighth assist of the season as the Red Devils led 1-0 and 3-1 en route to just their second Premier League win since mid-March.
WATCH MANCHESTER UNITED v NEWCASTLE UNITED FULL MATCH REPLAY
Newcastle have claimed just a single point from their last two matches to put their European hopes back in jeopardy.
Chelsea won Wednesday to move onto 60 points and sixth place, ahead of Man United and Newcastle who both have 57 points. Newcastle have a tremendous goal differential advantage, so the power is in their hands via the table route, though Man United could claim a Europa League berth by winning the FA Cup over Manchester City.
Feel good vibes for at least one night at Old Trafford
Erik ten Hag was smiling. For real! The Old Trafford crowd saluted its players and for at least one night it seemed like Manchester United’s home ground had the positive vibes that rang through the venue for so many years when the Red Devils were one of if not the best clubs in the world. Will it matter in the end if Erik ten Hag fails to get to Europe through the Premier League table or by winning the FA Cup? It’s a confusing time. Erik ten Hag had a fantastic first season and there are plenty of excuses to go around right now if INEOS and the new Manchester United management wants to take them. Wednesday won’t be a turning point, but it could go down as a good sign for Ten Hag.
Manchester United 3-2 Newcastle player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Manchester United 3-2 Newcastle player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Manchester United 3-2 Newcastle player ratings (from fotmob.com)
What’s next?
Newcastle finish with a Championship Sunday trip to Brentford at 11am ET.
Man United go to Brighton on Championship Sunday, then face Manchester City in the FA Cup Final at 10am ET on Saturday, May 25.
How to watch Manchester United vs Newcastle United live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 3pm ET Wednesday (May 15)
TV Channel: USA Network
Online: Watch live online via NBC.com
Manchester United vs Newcastle United live updates — By Nick Mendola
Manchester United vs Newcastle final score: 3-2
Goalscorers: Mainoo (31'), Gordon (48'), Diallo (57'), Hojlund (84'), Hall (90+2')
Erik ten Hag reaction
Lewis Hall goal! Man Utd 3-2 Newcastle (90+2 minute)
Man Utd get insurance goal through Rasmus Hojlund! Man Utd 3-1 Newcastle (84th minute)
Barely into the game, Rasmus Hojlund takes a Bruno Fernandes nutmeg entry pass and dribbles right before shooting through the legs of Lewis Hall to beat Dubravka across his body.
That’ll do it.
Magpies chances
Joelinton goes high to reach a big cross and Onana has to push the Brazilian’s header over the bar for a corner.
Dan Burn can’t head the ensuing set piece service home and the Red Devils go the other way.
Later, Gordon sends a hard pass to the back post and a sliding Almiron cannot reach it.
Newcastle sub
Fabian Schar enters the game for Trippier shortly after Miguel Almiron and Joelinton come in for Jacob Murphy and Elliot Anderson.
63rd minute and the Magpies need the equallizer.
Amad Diallo goal! Man Utd 2-1 Newcastle (57th minute)
A corner kick is half-cleared and Amad Diallo catches it so sweet on the volley.
2-1, lead back to the hosts.
Amrabat saves Man Utd
Gordon breaks in the other direction and Alexander Isak gets to the other side of the pitch.
Gordon cues up Isak but Amrabat has busted a lung to get in position to get a piece of Isak’s shot and limit the damage to a corner.
Mainoo stops the corner kick danger. Still 1-1.
Newcastle goal! Man Utd 1-1 Newcastle (48th minute)
Alexander Isak sweeps a cross from the right and Anthony Gordon’s at the back post to knife it past Onana.
Turnabout is fair play, as Gordon deserved a penalty when Sofyan Amrabat ripped his sock with a cleats-up tackle in the box during the first half.
Close from the Magpies
Bruno Guimaraes gets the ball from Alexander Isak and takes a shot from atop the box.
The ball turns off the knee of a prone Sofyan Amrabat but Andre Onana recovers to collect it.
Halftime — Man United 1-0 Newcastle
Amad Diallo works a 1-2 with Mainoo and is well-denied by Dubravka.
The Magpies’ back four — all fullbacks or at least 3.5 including Dan Burn — hasn’t enjoyed the moments when Newcastle have been out of possession.
But Newcastle have not often been out of possession at 58%. Man Utd have nine of the game’s 16 shots and 1-0 is fair enough.
Magpies try their luck with corners
Newcastle’s had three-straight corners but interventions haven’t allowed good finishing attempts until the third.
Bruno Guimaraes is at the back post to meet Kieran Trippier’s corner but he thuds it across goal and wide of the far post.
Manchester United goal! Man Utd 1-0 Newcastle (31st minute)
It’s too easy.
Kobbie Mainoo is kept onside by a sleeping Kieran Trippier, and the youngster takes Amad’s entry pass and sends it low past Dubravka.
An earned 1-0 lead.
Repeat the last one
Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot work a pretty 1-2 that ends with a Dalot shot denied point-blank by Dubravka.
Another Dubravka save
Man United has found something with Scott McTominay and Bruno Fernandes pushing way forward, perhaps even as false nines.
Dubravka makes an athletic save and Newcastle have to scramble to deal with Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s pursuit of the rebound.
0-0, 17'.
Newcastle start bright but hosts win dangerous free kick
The Magpies were living in the Man United end but that changes as Scott McTominay bursts the other way and comically hits the deck after contact on the sleeve from Dan Burn.
Bruno Fernandes free kick is dangerous and Martin Dubravka pokes it skyward. Casemiro can’t quite do enough with an ensuing chance.
Manchester United lineup
Onana, Wan-Bissaka, Evans, Casemiro, Dalot, Mainoo, McTominay, Amrabat, Fernandes, Amad, Garnacho
Newcastle United lineup
Dubravka, Trippier, Krafth, Burn, Hall, Murphy, Guimaraes, Longstaff, Anderson, Gordon, Isak
Manchester United focus, team news
With so many defensive injuries, Erik ten Hag is delighted that Lisandro Martinez is close to a return. Raphael Varane will play his part in the final game of the season and the FA Cup final ahead of his departure at the end of his contract this summer. Bruno Fernandes, Scott McTominay and Marcus Rashford are all doubts.
OUT: Victor Lindelof (thigh), Tyrell Malacia (knee), Luke Shaw (thigh), Harry Maguire (muscle), Mason Mount (muscular) | QUESTIONABLE: Anthony Martial (groin), Bruno Fernandes (wrist), Scott McTominay (knee), Marcus Rashford (ankle), Raphael Varane (muscular), Lisandro Martinez (calf)
Newcastle United focus, team news
Newcastle hope to have Isak available after his illness with Wilson also looking unlikely to play as they may have no strikers available. Schar is also close to a return to boost their defensive options.
OUT: Sandro Tonali (suspension), Sven Botman (knee), Jamaal Lascelles (knee), Lewis Miley (back), Matt Targett (achilles), Joe Willock (achilles) | QUESTIONABLE: Fabian Schar (thigh), Alexander Isak (illness), Callum Wilson (thigh)
