Rasmus Hojlund finally got his first goal in the Premier League as Manchester United rallied back from two goals down to beat Aston Villa 3-2 on Boxing Day.
Premier League
Result: Manchester United 3-2 Aston Villa
Date: 26 December 2023
Venue: Old Trafford
Raphael Varane was back in the United line-up after missing the West Ham United game through illness, while Marcus Rashford, Christian Eriksen and Diogo Dalot also returned.
After a lively start, the visitors got the opening goal in the 21st minute when a free-kick from John McGinn from sailed past everyone and into the back of the net.
The lead was doubled five minutes when poor defending from United allowed an unmarked Clement Lenglet to nod the ball into the path Leander Dendoncker, who flicked the ball past Andre Onana.
The Red Devils finished stronger in the latter stages but they were unable to find a way past Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who denied Rashford on two ocassions in the box.
United, however, came out firing in the second half and thought they had pulled a goal back two minutes when a neat counter attack ended with Alejandro Garnacho rounded Martinez to fire into an empty net, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
Garnacho was not to be denied in the 58th minute when the Argetine turned home another cross from Rashford after some good work by Bruno Fernandes in the build-up.
United then got back on level terms with 20 minutes left on the clock as Fernandes' cross deflected into the path of Garnacho, whose shot deflected pass Martinez.
The home side completed the comeback with nine minutes to play as Hojlund bagged his first league after 15 matches with a lovely volley that went in off the upright.
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