Sunday 12 November 2023

Victor Lindelof Nets Winner as Wasteful Manchester United Clinch 1-0 Win Over Luton

Victor Lindelof scored the only goal at Old Trafford as Manchester United claimed a 1-0 victory over Luton, relieving the pressure on under-fire manager Erik Ten Hag.

The Red Devils missed a plethora of chances in the first half as Luton proved stubborn opposition on their first trip to M16 since September 1991.


But Lindelof slammed high into the net on 59 minutes after Town failed to clear their lines, earning United a second successive Premier League win. 



The stadium fell silent as wreaths were laid in the pitch and a bugler played the last post to mark the 105th anniversary of Armistice Day. The names of former Manchester United and Luton Town players who served in the armed forces and made the ultimate sacrifice during the two world wars were displayed on the scoreboards and around the perimeter of the pitch.


Rasmus Hojlund became the fastest United player to reach five Champions League goals for United during the chaotic 4-3 defeat at FC Copenhagen in midweek. 


The Dane scored twice in his native country, but a first Premier League goal continues to elude the young striker.



Hojlund should have opened his account in the opening minutes when Marcus Rashford’s deflected cross landed five yards out from goal, but his finish was eased brilliantly by sprawling Town goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski.


Rashford was the next player to test the Hatters defence when he peeled off to the back post and volleyed Bruno Fernandes’s corner kick back across goal, only for Gabe Osho to deflect behind.


Osho launched a long pass towards Carlton Morris midway through the first half, and after Lindelof headed straight to Issa Kabore. The full back took a touch before whipping in a cross from the right flank. Morris rose highest to head goalwards and saw his effort clawed away from the bottom corner by the diving Andre Onana.





Luton were left exposed when Diogo Dalot intercepted Kaminski’s pass out from the back. The United no. 20 headed to Hojlund who swivelled and sent Alejandro Garnacho through on goal on the left flank. 


Kaminski stood firm as the youngster tried to round the goalkeeper, before Kabore and Tom Lockyer came back and combined to tackle the winger and clear to safety.


United missed yet another glaring opportunity at the beginning of the second half when Hojlund headed wide from a Fernandes free kick, but the hosts finally broke the deadlock following another set piece on the hour mark.



A Fernandes corner from the left was cleared by Morris to the edge of the box where substitute Mason Mount passed to Rashford who drilled across goal. Alfie Doughty could only poke the low cross-shot into the danger zone where Lindelof arrived to stroke the ball beyond a helpless Kaminski and into the roof of the net.


Kaminski kept Luton in the game with ten minutes remaining when he stood firm to stop Rashford’s low shot with the forward bearing in on goal.


The Belgian international capped off another fine individual performance by diving low to his left to save Scott McTominay’s header, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Luton falling into the Premier League relegation zone following Bournemouth’s win over Newcastle.







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