United Kingdom
Argentina 
Australia 
Austria 
Brazil 
Canada 
Germany 
Ireland 
Italy 
Malaysia 
Mexico 
New Zealand 
Poland 
South Africa 
United States Subs Fred and Anthony Elanga give Manchester United the points in stormy Leeds encounter
- United take commanding two-goal lead thanks to Maguire and Fernandes
- Leeds get back on level terms with remarkable two goals in one minute
- Visitors pull away thanks to goals from Fred and Elanga, the latter of whom is struck by a coin
Manchester United have spent the last nine years desperately trying to bring back the glory days and so it took a throwback of a fixture for them to finally re-assert themselves.
On a day of torrential rain, and a torrent of abuse from the stands – with substitute Anthony Elanga struck on the head by a coin as he celebrated United’s third goal – they claimed a hard-fought (in more ways than one) victory over Leeds.
It was the first time in front of fans that the grand old clubs had met in the Premier League at Elland Road for almost two decades and while United are still attempting to restore what they achieved back then they have suddenly opened up a four-point lead in the contest to finish in fourth place, albeit having played games more than Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.
It was all here in a fixture that football has missed – and feared a little – and in such a bear-pit of an atmosphere with the hatred dripping around the Pennines. The combatants are led by two of the world’s most progressive coaches in Marcelo Bielsa and Ralf Rangnick but this was so rough and raw it felt like a return to the 1970s never mind 1990s or 2000s.
Rangnick said he had been unaware of the bitterly entrenched rivalry but he certainly received an abrupt education and punched the air in front of the United fans at the end while the interim manager can take credit for his substitutions just as it appeared United had blown it as they incredibly conceded twice in 59 seconds of glorious madness in a relentless second-half.
It was the first time United had lost a lead under Rangnick and actually regained it with both his replacements, Fred and Elanga, scoring. Who said his ‘in-game’ management was questionable? Certainly not on this dramatic occasion.
It was visceral, it was chaotic, it was raucous, noisy, nasty at times. It was fast and it was certainly furious. There were nine yellow cards and it could have been more. A lot more. There were flares, with red smoke billowing through the rain, and there were flare-ups and plenty of fouls in the foul weather. Somehow United midfielder Scott McTominay stayed on despite a series of persistent fouls while objects were also thrown at Harry Maguire, when he scored, with the captain passing something to referee Paul Tierney as more were aimed at him as he walked off at half-time.
The conditions were always going to be challenging but the biblical downpour led to the ball holding up on the turf and players aquaplaning into challenges.
Before the final whistle there was inevitably a mass pushing and shoving after yet another strong tackle, this time from substitute Junior Firpo, with Rangnick running onto the sodden pitch.
It was also a result that, once again, left Leeds looking over their shoulder, worrying about relegation – and Bielsa must avoid that if he is to leave this summer - and worrying about yet more injuries as they lost Robin Koch to what appeared to be a concussion. Concerningly he was allowed to carry on, after cutting his head, before groggily departing.
It was as they re-organised having lost Koch that Leeds conceded with Maguire powering home a header from a Luke Shaw corner. His marker, Diego Llorente, did not even get close to stopping Maguire who claimed his first league goal of the season and, unwisely, knee-slid towards the Leeds fans. Bruno Fernandes picked up an object and tossed it away.
Fernandes was then collecting a goal of his own. Deep into added time in the first-half Victor Lindelof broke from deep in his own half and exchanged passes with Jadon Sancho, who went on to have his best game since joining United, before pushing the ball wide to the winger who chipped a cross for Fernandes to easily head home. In reality it could have been over by that point as Cristiano Ronaldo had already fluffed a close-range chance after clever work by Paul Pogba, who was dominant during that period. But Illan Meslier saved on his goal-line.
Leeds re-grouped and the second-half was all about the substitutions. Firstly it was the home side’s replacements, Joe Gelhardt and Raphinha, who surprisingly started on the bench, who made the difference. And so, after Meslier again thwarted Ronaldo, Leeds struck. And then struck again.
The first was a fluke; the second owed everything to tenacity and desire – and a correct Var check. Rodrigo was released by Firpo down the left and looked to pick out Raphinha only to over-hit his cross which swirled over David de Gea and into the net. The goalkeeper, such a saviour for United this season, was at fault.
The energy charge propelled Leeds forward with Adam Forshaw snapping at Fernandes, winning the ball and Daniel James arcing an inviting low cross which was met by the sliding Raphinha who bundled it in. United, with Ronaldo booked for dissent, furiously claimed Fernandes was fouled but Forshaw cleanly won possession and the goal rightly stood and it appeared Leeds would complete an astonishing turnaround when James met Firpo’s cross only to fail to get any purchase on his diving header. The ball squirted wide.
It proved costly. Fred had just come on but he fed the ball to Sancho and then ran around his team-mate to receive the return pass before hammering an angled left-foot shot between Meslier and the near post. As Leeds tried to reply, United struck to end any doubt as Fernandes skilfully lifted the ball up over Pascal Struijk after it was played into him and slipped a pass through to Elanga who side-footed home. It was a rare moment of calm in the storm and it ended it.
as soon as possible. Quotes to follow here if anyone says anything interesting.
No further moments of note. That's a good day for Man United, and for Ralf R. He sent on Fred and Elanga at 2-2 and they both scored.
Klich is the latest into the book, I feel that the major interest of these remaining five minutes of added time will be to see if we get a red.
It is kicking off a bit between the players. A foul leads to a dispute, looks to me like Junior, the Leeds number 3, raised a hand there. Shaw is in the fray. Junior had followed through on Elanga, and then various United players led by Shaw came over to have their say. Bookings for Junior and Shaw.
Bit of a diversion really - the points are going to Lancashire.
No fan of Man United, but I'm pleased for Elanga there, after some yob apparently chucked something at him. Leeds attack, they lose it, Bruno Fernandes carries the ball forward and slips it to Elanga. Smart finish from the sub to tuck it away and that's the game.
Off comes Ronaldo. He played in the fixture 18 years ago! Fair play to him.
Rodrigo goes for the spectacular from 30 yards, when James was very well placed in acres down the left.
Leeds have a corner. Cleared.
Argy and furthermore bargy!
Raphinha the man in the book for acting up. Leeds wanted McTominay to get a second yellow for a robust shoulder barge on Junior.
McTominay into the book for clattering Gelhardt.
Good opportunity for Klich! Space gapes between Maguire and Shaw, Kilch receives the ball, shifts it, and fires straight at the keeper.
Rain has abated a little but the tackles are flying in, the crowd are roaring, the mud is forming on the pitch.
Elanga is okay to continue, and had the chance to hit back at Leeds in the most meaningful way possible. Sancho again carries it well, and releases it at the perfect moment. It's Elanga in the inside right position now, but he hits the shot straight at the keeper.
In the celebrations after that, Elanga was struck by an object thrown from the stands.
Fred has only been on for three minutes, he has joined in on an excellent move, great break from MUFC. Sancho carries it, and unselfishly slips it to Fred, arriving in the inside left channel. He smashes a shot that beats Meslier at his near post.
Raphinha and Rodrigo asking questions of MUFC. Are Leeds in danger of over-committing here? They seem to be throwing a lot of men forward.
Just another bizarre game in a weird season. Leeds looked awful and United in control, then a freak goal and MUFC have gone to pieces.
Ayling booked for a cynical foul.
Great energy to the match. Surprising sub for MUFC - Pogba is coming off. Fred is on. Lingard off. Elanga on.
Lindelof again strides forward, lovely little pass from Ronaldo, sending Sancho through and his shot is deflected behind.
There had been a VAR check for a foul on Fernandes by Forshaw, but that was not found to be the case.
And again! Man United are dozing, Dan James with some good work, he slides it across - and Raphinha taps it in at the far post. Despite the best efforts of VAR to ruin the moment, the goal stands.
Two goals in 24 seconds!
Leeds are back in it.
Glorious! What a larf for the Leeds fans. They counter attack and drive forward, down the left, and then the cross from Rodrigo comes in and totally lobs the keeper. De Gea has blundered badly there with his positioning.
Gelhardt has gone up front, Leeds are now playing with four attackers. If Man United can drive through that press there is an acre of space.
Leeds do seem like one of those tactical puzzles that, once you have solved it, is pretty easy to crack again and again.
Textbook play vs Leeds from Lindelof: centre-backs driving out with the ball causes them a real problem.
— Daniel Zeqiri (@ZeqiriDan) February 20, 2022
Tough conditions. Even kicking the ball from a stationary position at a freekick is challenging for H Maguire.
Llorente and Harrison, who were both poor, are coming off. Gelhardt and Raphinha are coming on - not sure why he didn't start but there you have it.
Players are emerging from the tunnel.
That has knocked the stuffing out of the Leeds fans and, perhaps, the players as well. No time for any action of note after it, and Bielsa has a huge team talk to deliver.
Excellent break from United, led by Lindelof. Five minutes of the six minutes added, United break via their defender, he lays it off to Lingard and he stands the ball up for Bruno Fernandes to nod it home.
To the tune of the Joy Division classic, Man United's fans sing "Leeds, Leeds are falling apart again."
Talking of Leeds not looking out for their own interests, they nearly do themselves in here. Bruno hits it over the top for C Ronaldo, Llorente seems to be under little pressure but nearly hooks it over his own goalie. Lack of communcation.
Lucky for them, the corner is a dud.
Koch, incidentally, went off as a regular sub. although Leeds would have been within their rights to claim that as a concussion sub.
Useful ball into the area for Klich, but he lays it off rather than trying a shot.
The ball seems to be sticking in the turf, pudding-y surface. I think that might have contributed to Ronlado mis-timing that tap-in.
Precautionary inspection at Elland Road at half time? This pitch is grim.
— James (@jamesaknight) February 20, 2022
A flare on the pitch.
De Gea has to look lively to come out and hack clear a decent through ball.
Excellent corner delivery from Shaw, that was. Maguire's first goal of the season.
Harry Maguire has beasted Llorente there just by the penalty spot, rising to bullet home a header with that mighty fivehead of his.
Pogba is enjoying Forshaw. He's beaten him again, neck and crop. Slips it inside to Bruno Fernandes, who hits a hard shot that Meslier tips behind for a corner.
Firpo has come on for Koch.
A further delay, Koch down again. He doesn't look like he'll carry on. Hope he's okay, that was a hefty whack he took from Scott Mc T.
That should surely be one - nil ?!
Pogba one on one with Forshaw, he's had him on toast there, and PP slides the ball across, low cross across the six yard box. Ronaldo! But he fails to tap it in. The ball was juuuuust a bit behind him and he couldn't adjust his feet in time.
Forshaw steams forward and hits a shot that De Gea is more than equal to.
Now its Bruno who is down. Plenty of yelling but not much action so far. All mouth and trousers.
Jadon Sancho tries a deep cross, but that's too high for Ronaldo.
The game resumes but the dramatic shape of it has yet to reform.
A delay of game. McTominay has clashed heads with Koch The Leeds man is down and needs treatment. Not malicious but a blood injury nevertheless.
That looks like stitches.
Pogba drives forward and hits a low daisycutter that Meslier needs two goes at grabbing.
Studs up challenge from Klich on Wan-Bissaka that the ref fails to spot. Man United protest and forget to play to the whistle - Lindelof is waving his arms around in confusion and protest as Harrison nips in. Luck for the visitors, he bungles the shot.
Leeds: Meslier, Ayling, Llorente, Koch, Struijk, Forshaw, Dallas, Rodrigo, Klich, Harrison, James. Subs: Firpo, Raphinha, Roberts, Klaesson, Bate, Gelhardt, Cresswell, Shackleton, Kenneh.
Man Utd: de Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw, Pogba, McTominay, Lingard, Bruno Fernandes, Sancho, Ronaldo. Subs: Mata, Rashford, Fred, Varane, Dalot, Henderson, Alex Telles, Matic, Elanga.
Referee: Paul Tierney (Lancashire)
Promising break for Dan James but he hasn't timed his run right, and the linesman's flag puts an end to that.
Early freekick for MU on the halfway line. Maguire plays it forward, The crowd boo. To Lingard. The crowd boo. You get the idea.
approach. Rodrigo and Dan James their most forward players.
Brilliant atmosphere.
Biblical conditions! The Man United guys emerge into 'Marching on Together', and a hearty chorus of boos.
to leave out Raphinha.
