Match Report: Brentford 4-3 Manchester United | OneFootball

Manchester United lost 4-3 to Brentford in what was a thrilling yet disappointing encounter at the GTech Community Stadium on Sunday.

Following what was an emphatic 3-0 win over Athletic Club in the Europa League, Man United would have been hoping to continue their winning momentum in the Premier League.

Sadly, it wasn’t to be. While United suffered a fair bit of misfortune on the pitch, including an unlucky own goal, the team’s aerial game was dismal, with Brentford scoring two goals off headers from close range.

Had their heading ability been better, United may have managed to rescue themselves a point in what was a tense match throughout.

Three minutes into the match, Brentford came close to scoring. Keane Lewis-Potter found Kevin Schade with a long ball, but Luke Shaw did well in intercepting the ball. Still, he was fortunate to escape a blunder as his header veered just wide of his own net.

A minute later, Yegor Yarmoulik sent the ball toward Schade, who fired the ball over the crossbar.

The opening minutes were challenging for United, with the visitors struggling to maintain possession against an aggressive home team.

Still, even when they were on the ball, United appeared non-threatening, resorting to back passes and slow build-up play.

Suddenly, in the 14th minute, United came to life. Out of nowhere, the visitors took charge, sparking a spontaneous counter-attack. Alejandro Garnacho collected the ball off a Brentford goal kick, who threaded the ball to Kobbie Mainoo, who quickly passed it back. Garnacho burst down the wing, passing the ball across the face of the goal to Mason Mount, who buried it in the back of the net.

It was an excellent display of opportunism by United, who were on the back foot for most of the opening proceedings.

25 minutes in, Brentford launched a threatening counter, only for Tyler Fredericson to bravely intervene to deflect the ball out for a throw-in.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t stop the hosts’ subsequent attack. A long throw-in resulted in a goalmouth scramble, with Mikel Damsgard taking a shot that Altay Bayindir was able to get a glove to, albeit not enough to steer the ball away from the goal. Still, it was a difficult situation for Bayindir to deal with, especially since his defence allowed Brentford to penetrate so deeply into the box.

It was later determined that Luke Shaw had scored an own goal, given that the ball had not been travelling goalwards before he got a touch to it.

After colliding with an attacker, Matthijs de Ligt went down injured, signalling his problem to the bench. Still, the referee could not bring the game to a standstill, allowing Brentford to continue their attack.

Christian Norgaard crossed the ball to Schade, who rose above the defence to head Brentford into the lead.

With no other option but to bring de Ligt off, Amorim made his first substitution, bringing Harry Maguire into the game.

Five minutes before the break, Schade got on the end of a long ball, bursting into the box and thumping a shot goalward that Bayindir stopped with a diving save.

Both Harry Amass and Fredericson appeared to be struggling against opponents of such a high magnitude.

Manuel Ugarte received a yellow card after an unnecessary challenge on Michael Kayode.

In the 43rd minute, Brentford came close to scoring a third. Damsgaard’s free-kick found the head of Norgaard, whose close-range effort was parried by Bayindir.

During three minutes of added time, United were on a rare attack. From the right wing, Mount passed the ball to Garnacho in the centre, who misfired his shot. He would have surely been disappointed given what a glorious opportunity he had to level the score.

Despite their positive start to the match, United were clearly rattled after conceding. Amorim clearly needed to settle his young lineup down in order to regain some control in the second half of the match.

Amorim decided to make some changes ahead of the second half, with Amad Diallo and Leny Yoro coming on to replace Luke Shaw and Patrick Dorgu.

Soon after the restart, Mount received the ball from Garnacho, firing a shot goalward from the edge of the box that the keeper parried. Mount then pounced on the rebound, taking another shot that the goalkeeper managed to keep his gloves on that time.

In the 56th minute, Christian Eriksen entered the game to a round of applause from the home fans, marking his return to the club he represented before United. He replaced Mount.

Off another long throw, the hosts almost found the back of the net, with Yoane Wissa getting his foot to the ball, knocking it wide of the far post.

Moments later, United were on the attack, with Garnacho threading a through ball to Chido Obi, whose shot was blocked. Ugarte took the follow-up shot, but his effort was blocked as well, with the ball floating toward the keeper, who made a comfortable catch.

Bryan Mbuemo went on a threatening solo run, rushing goalwards only for Ugarte to perform a superbly-timed tackle to dispossess the striker on the edge of the box.

Past the hour mark, Eriksen looked to get on the scoresheet with a speculative effort that sailed over the crossbar. United looked a lot more confident once some more experienced players took to the field.

In the 65th minute, United were on the prowl for an equaliser yet again, earning their first corner of the match. Eriksen swept in a threatening cross, only for Brentford to block it at the near post.

Garnacho sparked another counter, slotting a through ball to Amad on the right. He passed back to Garnacho, whose shot was blocked. A moment later, Eriksen found Amass with a soaring cross, only for the youngster to belt his volley wide.

With 20 minutes to go, Brentford doubled their lead. Mbuemo thumped a cross to Schade, who scored his second goal with another header.

Just four minutes later, Brentford scored yet again off another rapid counter. Kayode raced into the box, passing to Wissa in the middle, who made no mistake when taking his shot. 4-1 to the hosts.

With 13 minutes to play, Victor Lindelof came on for Fredericson.

Just eight minutes before the final whistle, Garnacho scored with a phenomenal long-range strike. The winger curled in a surgical strike from outside the box, curving the ball into the far corner out of the keeper’s reach.

In the 86th minute, Brentford were on the hunt for a fifth goal. Wissa raced into the box, attempting to pass to the centre, only for Ugarte to intercept.

On the stroke of 90 minutes, Obi showed some silky footwork to swivel past his marker and take a shot that happened to be blocked. Still, United won a corner thanks to the young striker’s efforts.

Eriksen’s cross found Garnacho, who passed the ball to Amad. He then took a shot that was deflected out of the box.

Four minutes into seven minutes of stoppage time, Amad pulled another goal back. From the right wing, he cut into the box, thumping in a sizzling shot that the goalkeeper was powerless to save.

Starting XI: Bayindir, De Ligt, Mount, Dorgu, Garnacho, Shaw, Ugarte, Mainoo, Amass, Fredericson, Obi Subs: Maguire, Amad, Yoro, Eriksen, Lindelof

Featured image Alex Pantling via Getty Images

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