Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund produced a three-goal second half to deliver Manchester United from Boxing Day embarrassment to a 3-2 win over Aston Villa at Villa Park on Tuesday.
Aston Villa didn’t need an invitation to fire forward but abject defending made it easy for the visitors to build a 2-0 lead through John McGinn and Leander Dendoncker.
WATCH MANCHESTER UNITED v ASTON VILLA FULL MATCH REPLAY
The Red Devils looked cooked midway through the opening half, but Bruno Fernandes and Alejandro Garnacho helped drive the side back into the game. Still, it was 2-0 at the break.
Only Ten Hag’s men answered the bell, though,. as Garnacho’s constantly-pumping legs had the ball in the goal three times in the first 25 minutes of the second half. Two of them counted, setting the stage for Hojlund’s dramatic winner.
Man United pulls back into sixth place with 31 points, three back of Man City and five behind fourth-place Spurs.
Villa’s loss keeps its points haul at 39, one less than Arsenal and three fewer than leaders Liverpool. Spurs are next with 36 points and a match-in-hand, while Man City have 34 and two matches to play.
Garnacho, Hojlund slow burns catch fire together
Erik ten Hag believes in teenager Alejandro Garnacho, and for some time it felt like that undrying fuel tank might be part of the manager’s undoing at Old Trafford.
Take away Garnacho’s Goal of the Year contender bicycle kick goal and there have been limited returns for the 19-year-old, who has been joined by Rasmus Hojlund, Marcus Rashford, and Antony in producing very little in Premier League play.
It hasn’t stopped Garnacho from driving back lines and ripping off shots, as at times it appears the Spanish-born Argentina international has never met a pass he liked very much.
But his feisty spirit and unerring belief led to a pair of goals on Tuesday and my goodness did Ten Hag need them both as United looked dour — and that’s being polite — at the start against Villa.
Then came Hojlund, who has been good in Europe but had yet to fire home a goal in the Premier League. That ended with venom and then a fiery celebration, as Ten Hag can be relieved for both his young shooters as well as himself.
Had United lost this one, who knows what could’ve happened before the calendar hit 2024?
What’s next?
Aston Villa host Burnley at 10am ET Saturday, 2.5 hours before Manchester United visit Nottingham Forest.
Manchester United vs Aston Villa final score: 2-3
Goal: McGinn (22'), Dendoncker (26'), Garnacho (59', 71'), Hojlund (82')
Manchester United vs Aston Villa player ratings
Manchester United vs Aston Villa player ratings (fotmob.com)
Manchester United vs Aston Villa player ratings (fotmob.com)
Rasmus Hojlund goal (video)!
The comeback is complete!
A ball is fired into the mix and comes off John McGinn’s thigh.
It falls for Rasmus Hojlund, who still has work to do to deposit the loose ball in the goal.
He doesn’t miss, finally getting his Premier League goal and not a moment — or 100 moments — too soon.
3-2, Man Utd.
Garnacho makes it two (video)!
Erik ten Hag’s getting relief from his young hope.
Garnacho drives the right side and dishes to Marcus Rashford, and the ball comes back to the Argentina international.
He heads for the middle and rips a left-footed shot that takes a hard turn off a defender and beats Onana to make it 2-2 with less than 20 minutes to play at Old Trafford.
Alejandro Garnacho goal (video)
The Red Devils have had two balls in the goal through Alejandro Garnacho during the early stages of the second half. The second one will count.
Garnacho was offside on an early breakaway but bides his time well this time, charging to Marcus Rashford’s pass across the 18 to slot past Emiliano Martinez.
2-1 now with over a half-hour to play at Old Trafford, which is making positive sounds now.
Manchester United vs Aston Villa halftime: 0-2
Erik ten Hag’s got interesting buttons to push or leave be at the break, as Manchester United was much better after going down two but... you know... went down two. It is not a surprise to hear the Red Devils booed off the pitch at half.
Aston Villa’s a good opponent but United will post to self-inflicted wounds when it comes to no one dealing with John McGinn’s free kick service that became a goal as well as the elective defending of three touches on the second Villa goal.
Possession finishes 50-50 and the Red Devils had a few opportunity to pull one back, but Marcus Rashford is among the players in rough form.
It’s 7-6 in shots for United, who trail 2-0 and will look to an uninspiring bench of Facundo Pellistri, Donny van de Beek, Scott McTominay, Sergio Reguilon, Daniel Gore, Willy Kambwala, and backup keeper Altay Bayindir.
Red Devils awaken
Man United may not be okay with being run out of its own building, a welcome sign for its fans and this game.
Andre Onana picks out Diogo Dalot with a terrific long ball, and United has a corner on the heels of several promising moves in the Villa third.
Not much comes from it, but at least the Red Devils are showing some energy down 2-0.
Leander Dendoncker goal! (video)
And now it’s 2-0!
A corner kick reaches Clement Lenglet unmarked at the back post.
The Frenchman nods the ball back across goal, past Raphael Varane, for Leander Dendoncker to snap home.
Wow.
John McGinn goal!
Villa strike first!
John McGinn whips in a free kick from the left side into the proverbial “corridor of uncertainty,” and Andre Onana is forced to play a leaping Ollie Watkins.
The center forward doesn’t touch the ball, and Onana can only watch the ball hit the grass and skitter inside the far post.
Man United protest — perhaps they didn’t like Leon Bailey’s early run past the line — but it won’t matter. 1-0 to the visitors.
How to watch Manchester United vs Aston Villa live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 3pm ET, Tuesday (December 26)
TV Channel: USA Network
Online: Stream via NBC.com
Manchester United lineup
🏟️ For one final time at Old Trafford in 2023...
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 26, 2023
📣 TEAM NEWS 📣#MUFC || #MUNAVL
Aston Villa lineup
Your Aston Villa at Old Trafford! 👊 pic.twitter.com/JT02pO7mLp
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) December 26, 2023
Focus on Manchester United, team news
Erik ten Hag has to find some kind of fluidity in attack so don’t be surprised if Marcus Rashford starts up top instead of Rasmus Hojlund who has been starved of service in recent games. Due to injuries and illness, teenagers Mainoo and Kambwala may be rolled out again as the former made a big mistake for West Ham’s second goal last time out and the latter had a solid debut at center back.
OUT: Casemiro (ankle), Lisandro Martinez (foot), Tyrell Malacia (undisclosed), Jadon Sancho (disciplinary - club), Harry Maguire (groin), Victor Lindelof (undisclosed), Mason Mount (calf), Amad Diallo (knee), Christian Eriksen (knee), Anthony Martial (illness), Raphael Varane (unknown)
Focus on Aston Villa, team news
Emery has so many options in midfield and attack that he will no doubt rotate heavily over the festive period to keep everyone fresh. Watkins will start but Villa will perhaps look for the best counter-attacking options to support him with Bailey and Diaby surely good options to hit United on the break as the hosts will be forced to force the issue.
OUT: Pau Torres (undisclosed), Youri Tielemans (undisclosed), Boubacar Kamara (suspension), Emiliano Buendia (torn ACL - out for season), Tyrone Mings (torn ACL - out for season), Bertrand Traore (undisclosed), Robin Olsen (knock)