Where would Manchester United be without Bruno Fernandes?
A lot worse off this season, which is saying something, given how dire they have been in a campaign that has lurched from one crisis to another. But through all of the gloom and despondency, Fernandes has stood tall and led United, playing through the pain barrier and digging his side out of a hole – just as he did here.
Fernandes has not missed a game through injury or illness all season and has been involved in all but two of United's 46 matches – one as an unused sub and the other missed through suspension. With so many United players sidelined by injury this season, Fernandes – much-maligned for his emotional approach and propensity for theatrics – has been Erik ten Hag's captain reliable.
After Sunday's humiliating capitulation to Coventry in the FA Cup semi-finals, when they blew a 3-0 lead with 20 minutes left and scraped through on penalties, United needed a resounding response. Yet, until Fernandes swept the ball into the net in the 81st minute to put United 3-2 up, it looked like boss Ten Hag was going to face more uncomfortable questions about his side's below-par display.
But Fernandes stepped up again when it mattered, scoring his sixth goal in his last five games in all competitions, to keep alive United's slim hopes of securing a Champions League spot.
To do that, they must win all of their remaining five games and hope Aston Villa - 13 points ahead in fourth spot - and fifth-placed Tottenham both implode, a highly implausible scenario. But United fans should be grateful for small mercies – at least their team are back to winning ways in the Premier League, this a first triumph since a 2-0 victory over Everton on March 9.
Alejandro Garnacho should have given United the lead in the 22nd minute, when the goal opened up for him, but Wes Foderingham anticipated the shot and was down to his left early to parry the ball. Foderingham continued his heroics, repelling an angled effort from Rasmus Hojlund, then following that up with an even more impressive save, low down to his right, to divert a goalbound shot from Kobbie Mainoo.
Yet after absorbing so much pressure, it was the visitors who took a shock lead in the 35th minute, courtesy of a calamitous mistake from Andre Onana. The United keeper's first touch was poor and led to a hastily-hit pass to Diogo Dalot, which was too weak and intercepted by Jayden Bogle.
Bogle surged goalwards and still had work to do, but managed to keep his cool and steer the ball beyond Onana's inside post, to give Wilder's men a shock lead. But United were back on level terms seven minutes later, Maguire flicking on a cross from Garnacho and finding the far corner.
The Blades restored their lead five minutes after the restart, with a superbly-worked move. Gustavo Hamer's sharp turn enabled him to find Ben Osborn, whose cross found Ben Brereton Diaz, who applied a first-time finish beyond Onana. United were awarded a penalty on the hour, for a foul on Harry Maguire, with Fernandes converting from the spot to make it 2-2.
Brereton Diaz then saw a shot deflect off Maguire and clip the side-netting, as Wilder's side looked to reclaim the lead for a third time. But Fernandes made it 3-2 with a fine finish, then turned provider for Hojlund to make it 4-2 and secure a vital win for under-fire Ten Hag.
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https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiVGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm1pcnJvci5jby51ay9zcG9ydC9mb290YmFsbC9uZXdzL2JydW5vLWZlcm5hbmRlcy1tYW51dGQtdGVuLWhhZy0zMjY2NTM4N9IBWGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm1pcnJvci5jby51ay9zcG9ydC9mb290YmFsbC9uZXdzL2JydW5vLWZlcm5hbmRlcy1tYW51dGQtdGVuLWhhZy0zMjY2NTM4Ny5hbXA?oc=5
2024-04-25 02:00:00Z
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