Post by : Meena Ariff

Manchester United secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Newcastle United on Friday, with Ruben Amorim’s side showing great resilience despite facing a tough second-half challenge. Missing key players like captain Bruno Fernandes due to injury, along with Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo sidelined for the Africa Cup of Nations, Amorim was forced to adjust his lineup.

One of the standout moments came from Patrick Dorgu, who was played in an unfamiliar role on the right side of the attack. The young Danish player repaid the faith by scoring his first goal for the club, which proved to be the decisive strike. This goal ended Manchester United’s two-month wait for a home win and lifted spirits in the stadium.

The first half saw United performing well, creating chances and maintaining good control of the game. However, the second half told a different story. Newcastle dominated possession, controlling 67 percent of the ball and taking 16 shots on goal. Despite this pressure, Manchester United’s defense held firm, earning their second clean sheet of the season.

Reflecting on the match, Ruben Amorim admitted that his team was fortunate to come away with all three points but was proud of how they endured the pressure. “We had to suffer all together in the stadium,” he said. “We did a good first half and then the second half we just had to defend and try to do something going forward. It was a good win but I had so many games here saying we played really well and didn’t get the three points. Today was the opposite, we suffered together and managed to win the game.”

This victory pushes Manchester United up to fifth place in the Premier League, equal on points with fourth-placed Chelsea. With English teams performing strongly in European competitions this season, a top-five finish is likely enough to secure a Champions League spot next year.

On the other hand, Newcastle’s hopes of returning to the Champions League appear to be slipping away due to their poor away form. Eddie Howe’s team has won only once in nine league games on the road this season and currently sits 11th in the league standings.

Howe acknowledged that Newcastle’s performance improved in the second half but admitted it was not enough to get the win. “Second half was a lot better than the first, but we didn’t do enough. We had to do more,” Howe said. “We were very dominant in the second period and I felt if we scored we could have gone on to win the game, but it didn’t happen.”

The match highlighted the determination and grit of Manchester United under Ruben Amorim, proving that sometimes teamwork and spirit can triumph over possession and attacks. With several key players still out, United’s ability to grind out results will be vital in their pursuit of European qualification this season.

#Global News #Sports News