Bruno Fernandes grabbed his stuff. Record-tying 20th assist Manchester United beat Nottingham Forest 3-2 in an end-to-end match that again sparked VAR controversy on Sunday in the final game of the Premier League season.
Brian Mbeumo’s 76th-minute goal was decisive, set up by Fernandes, who tied him with Thierry Henry (2002/03) and Kevin De Bruyne (2019/20) for the most assists in a single Premier League season.
The Portuguese midfielder has one game left to make his record perfect – against Brighton next weekend.
United took the lead for the second time in the game in the 55th minute when Mbeumo controlled the ball with his outstretched arm and had his shot blocked, but Matheus Cunha fired home. The goal was conceded by the on-field referee, who ruled that the contact was accidental and continued to stand by his decision, even after VAR recommended watching the incident again on a pitchside monitor.
The victory confirmed United’s third place in the Premier League, one of five Champions League spots, and was another step in the right direction under manager Michael Carrick, who is widely expected to take over as permanent manager in the coming days after a successful four-month spell.
This was Carrick’s 11th win in 16 games as manager, with just two losses in that time.
United took the lead in the fifth minute through Luke Shaw, before Morato equalized in the 53rd minute.
Cunha’s controversial goal restored the lead for the hosts and Mbeumo made it 3-1, but Morgan Gibbs-White added another for Forest, who were given safety last week.
Brazilian midfielder Casemiro, in his fourth and final home game at United, received a standing ovation when he was sent off as a substitute in the 81st minute.
Brighton lose close battle for European position
In the race for a spot in the European competition, Brighton, who are seventh, lost 1-0 to Leeds and missed out on a chance to move up to sixth after Dominic Calvert-Lewin, an English striker who is expected to play in the World Cup, scored the winning goal in second-half stoppage time.
Eighth-placed Brentford drew 2-2 at home to Crystal Palace, and Dango Ouattara’s second of the game equalized in the final minute, moving them to one point behind Brighton.
Sunderland beat Everton 3-1 thanks to three second-half goals and moved one point back. Fulham drew 1-1 with relegation-bound Wolverhampton, thanks to a penalty from American left-back Anthony Robinson for his first Premier League goal.
West Ham will then aim to surpass Tottenham and move out of the relegation zone with a win against Newcastle.
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Steve Douglas is https://twitter.com/sdouglas80
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