Rasmus Hojlund enjoys impressive cameo in 2-0 win over Brighton | OneFootball

It was a sweet ending to Manchester United’s disappointing Premier League season as they defeated Brighton and Hove Albion 2-0 at the Amex Stadium this afternoon.

Yet again, it was an understated performance from Man United, with Erik ten Hag’s team looking despondent throughout.

With just 45% possession and 11 shots compared to Brighton’s 17, United’s clear goalscoring opportunities were few and far between, particularly during the first half when they appeared to lack any attacking creativity.

In the later stages of the second half, they finally came to life, capitalising on some errors by the home side to carve out an unlikely victory.

Despite his brief cameo, it was Rasmus Hojlund who drove United’s attack.

Making just 19 touches after coming on in the 60th minute, the Danish striker proved that you don’t need a lot of time on the ball in order to make a game changing impact.

Hojlund showed decent physicality, winning two out of three aerial duels as well as five of his six ground duels. He also tracked back to make one tackle, helping United to keep a clean sheet.

Completing eight out of 12 passes for a 67% accuracy, the 21 year old made one key pass as well.

Hojlund’s first standout moment came just 13 minutes into his cameo. When Casemiro lobbed the ball upfield from near the halfway line, Hojlund tapped the ball to Diogo Dalot, who was able to finish easily to hand United a late lead.

In the 88th minute, it was Hojlund’s time to shine. After a quick one-two with Christian Eriksen, he dribbled past Billy Gilmour and Igor Julio and slotted the ball into the back of the net to seal United’s win.

Aside from his impressive goal, Hojlund’s dribbling did not falter throughout the match. He completed all four of his attempted dribbles.

Given that this is the second consecutive match where he’s scored off the bench following Wednesday’s 3-2 win over Newcastle United, it seems clear that some rest is what Hojlund needed in order to get back to his finest form.

With 10 Premier League goals this season, he has proven his worth as well as how dangerous he can be when at the best of his game.

Ultimately, Hojlund may just play a crucial role in the FA Cup final next Saturday should United be able to pull off an unlikely surprise against title favourites Manchester City. With the right management, Hojlund could craft a bright future for himself at Old Trafford.

(Stats via Sofascore)

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