Manchester United suffered a damaging 2-1 defeat at home to Leeds United. Leeds secured their first victory at Old Trafford since 1981. Defensive mistakes and a red card proving decisive in a heated contest.
The game turned in the first half, where Noah Okafor scored twice, capitalising on errors from Leny Yoro and Lisandro Martinez. United struggled defensively, particularly in dealing with aerial balls and second phases, allowing Leeds to take firm control early on.
The situation worsened shortly after the break when Martinez was sent off following a VAR review for pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s hair – a decision that sparked debate but left United with 10 men for most of the second half.
Despite that setback, United showed a response. Casemiro pulled one back in the 69th minute with a header, and the hosts pushed forward late on. They came close to an equaliser through multiple aerial chances, including a header cleared off the line, but could not find a second goal.
United’s issues were clear. Defensive organisation and individual errors cost them early, while their attacking threat only became effective once they shifted to a more direct approach late in the game.
For Leeds, the result is significant. It marks their first league win at Old Trafford in decades and boosts their chances of survival.
For United, currently third, it raises fresh concerns about consistency at a crucial stage in the race for Champions League qualification.