Man UTD 2-1: Goals from Brenford Casemiro and Benjamin Sesco were enough to seal the Red Devils’ third place as they move closer to qualifying for the Champions League.
Casemiro celebrates after scoring Manchester United’s opening goal against Brentford (Image: Darren Staples/AFP)
Casemiro further showcased the Brazilian’s talent and helped take Manchester United one step closer to the top table of European football.
The veteran midfielder may be set to leave Old Trafford in the coming weeks, but he will leave with a bang after scoring a first-half header to give United a vital 2-0 victory.
Benjamin Sesco added another goal to open up a huge space between United and their nearest rivals in the race for Champions League qualification, but put a damper on Brentford’s own hopes of playing European football next season.
Matthias Jensen pulled one back with three minutes of normal time remaining, but it wasn’t enough as United held on.
read more: Luke Shaw substituted with injury against Man United against Brentfordread more: Manchester United overcome Brentford scare and move closer to Champions League qualification – 5 topics
As for United, there is no game where there is not a lot of pressure. And the home side knew that a win here would put them three points ahead of Liverpool and Aston Villa and put them in the lead for Champions League qualification.
But Brentford came to town with its own European design. If Keith Andrews’ side pick up the three points, they will leapfrog Chelsea, Bournemouth and Brighton into sixth place. And then a real spanner will be thrown in.
Carrick were boosted by Harry Maguire’s return from suspension, but had to cope without Matheus Cunha, who was injured with a lower back injury.
United got off to a great start and should have taken the lead within two minutes. Coby Mainu briefly transformed into Diego Maradona, making a sensational run past three defenders and teeing up Amad Diallo. Caoihin Kelleher was thwarted by Mainu’s flair and it looked impossible not to score, but somehow Sepp van den Berg came back and deflected Diallo’s shot wide.
Benjamin Sesco scores United’s second goal following Bruno Fernandes’ brilliance (Image: Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
But United were full of confidence and threatened Brentford’s goal. It took a superb save from Kelleher to stop Maguire’s header millimeters before it crossed the line. Bruno Fernandes’ brilliant pass found Brian Mbeumo, but Brentford scrambled back out of danger.
However, United got a well-deserved breakthrough in the 12th minute when Casemiro slipped in at the back post, met a cross that Maguire headed, and put his own shot into the back of the goal.
Brentford could have equalized when Kean Lewis-Potter’s cross almost tipped Igor Thiago out, but a desperate intervention by Luke Shaw saved them.
Senne Ramens then managed to deny Michael Cayode from almost point-blank range.
Casemiro’s looping header broke the deadlock (Image: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
It was fast, furious and equally amazing. Thiago could have scored a hat-trick in the same few minutes. He lost his footing and lost the ball, only to be brought down by Lamence, but his shot again was brilliantly saved by United’s goalkeeper. Seconds later, he was taunting Rammens again, when Rammens threw himself to his right and sent an on-goal shot wide of the spendthrift Brazilian.
United were walking a tightrope. However, just before half-time Ferrandes charged forward and created a chance for Sesco, making Brentford pay and ensuring they doubled United’s lead.
This was Fernandes’ 19th assist of the season, one away from the Premier League record.
This was a painful blow for the Brentford team, who should have been ahead.
Jensen’s dripping drive gave them great hope but the visitors were left to regret being too shocking in front of goal on a night that was sheer frustration for Andrews.
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