Hojlund Ends Goal Drought, As United Return to Winning Ways

Rasmus Hojlund scored his first English Premier League goal in his 15th appearance last night as Manchester United came from behind to beat Aston Villa 3-2 at Old Trafford in a thrilling Boxing Day clash.

The Norway striker netted the winner and celebrated wildly as United recovered from 2-0 down to claim their first win in four games, after Alejandro Garnacho’s brace had pulled United level.

In United’s first game since Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s 25 per cent purchase of the club, Erik ten Hag’s side produced their best performance of the season to prevent Aston Villa from going level on points with leaders Liverpool.

John McGinn and Leander Dendoncker gave the visitors a deserved 2-0 lead at half-time, taking advantage of United’s loose marking at set-pieces in the 21st and 26th minutes.

United created some chances in the first half that they could not convert but they rallied after the break and mounted a stirring comeback

Garnacho thought he had reduced the deficit three minutes into the second half, but his goal was disallowed by VAR for a marginal offside decision.

The 19-year-old Argentine was undaunted and he led the fightback, scoring from close range after breakaways in the 59th and 71st minutes to pull United level.

Villa then almost regained their lead, with the impressive Johnny Evans clearing John McGinn’s goal-bound effort off the line.
Hojlund then had the final say eight minutes from regulation time, reacting quickest to a loose ball in the Villa area and thrashing the ball home after Bruno Fernandes’ corner had struck McGinn and bounced free.

The victory, United’s first since their 2-1 win over Chelsea on December 6, which was also the last time they scored, took them up to sixth in the table.