Amad scored his first Premier League goal and assisted on another to help Manchester United edge past Newcastle United 3-2 at Old Trafford on Wednesday in a battle between clubs vying for a European spot next season. Erik ten Hag’s club remained eighth in the league, level on 57 points with seventh-place Newcastle. Chelsea is sixth with 60 points after defeating Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1 earlier on Wednesday, taking a significant step towards securing a European spot.
Kobbie Mainoo took advantage of Newcastle’s poor defense to put the home side ahead in the 31st minute. Diallo found the 19-year-old unmarked at the penalty spot, and Mainoo, who was kept onside by a half-asleep Kieran Trippier, turned and fired home.
In the 49th minute, Anthony Gordon slipped to stab in Jacob Murphy’s cross, bringing Newcastle level. Amad put Ten Hag’s team back on ahead eight minutes later when Fernandes’ corner was headed away. Diallo, prowling alone just inside the 18-yard box, rifled in a shot that keeper Martin Dubravka had little chance of saving.
Rasmus Hojlund, who entered the game in the 82nd minute, scored two minutes later with a cut inside two defenders and a shot from 16 yards, holding up a finger to silence the fans. Newcastle’s Lewis Hall pulled one back in injury time, but Ten Hag’s men hung on to win, capping off one of the most wretched home seasons in years. Both teams had multiple scoring opportunities, and Newcastle yelled for a penalty late in the first half after Gordon was brought down in the box in a tackle that left a big hole in the back of his sock. Following a VAR review, no penalty was imposed.
If Ten Hag’s men win the FA Cup, they will compete in the Europa League next season. However, if they do not win the Cup, they must finish seventh to qualify for the Europa Conference League. Manchester United, who have never finished lower than seventh in the Premier League, must beat Newcastle’s result at Brentford on Sunday (May 19) to move up to seventh position.
Obviously, the job isn’t finished yet, Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes said after securing a crucial win. We still have one game in the Premier League then the biggest game of the season, the FA Cup final on May 25 against holders Manchester City. It has been a tough season. We want to do better and do differently, the Portuguese midfielder expressed.
