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Hojlund scores first league goal, Man United win 3-2 over Villa – ARN News Centre
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Rasmus Hojlund’s first Premier League goal secured a 3-2 win for Manchester United over Aston Villa in a breathless encounter on Tuesday.
“Keep believing. I think our fans they deserved it. They are always behind us and we’ve had so many setbacks,” United manager Erik ten Hag told the BBC. “So I’m really pleased from the performance of this team. What kind of team can handle and deal with the amount of setbacks we have had?”
United, who had fans booing them off the Old Trafford pitch at halftime, climbed to sixth in the standings on 31 points, while Villa, who lost for the first time in 11 games in all competitions, are third with 39, missing a chance to move even on points with league-leaders Liverpool.
“The atmosphere pushed them. They have very good players,” Villa manager Unai Emery said.
After 1,027 minutes, Hojlund finally ended his league goal drought in the 82nd when a United corner bounced off John McGinn’s knee and fell to the Dane. The 20-year-old swiped it in off the post and a few minutes later left the game to a standing ovation.
“It has been a while (waiting), but yes I am very happy. I am the happiest man alive right now,” Hojlund told Amazon Prime. “You can see from the celebrations as well. We believed in ourselves until the very end and got the win today.”
McGinn scored for Villa in the 21st minute from a long free kick that sailed past several players and into the bottom left corner. Leander Dendoncker doubled their lead five minutes later from close range when an unmarked Clement Lenglet headed a corner kick back across goal.
United appeared headed for their ninth defeat in 19 league games before Garnacho netted his first in the 59th minute with a fierce shot from the centre of the box. He equalised for the hosts in the 71st after a give-and-go with Bruno Fernandes before Hojlund scored the winner.
“It is a great feeling. We are Manchester United. We were two-nil down, but we never give up, and it was a great comeback from the team,” Garnacho said.
United, who played for the first time since British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe struck a deal on Christmas Eve to take a minority stake in the club, looked done and dusted at halftime, but their second-half transformation was remarkable.
Garnacho believed he had pulled one back for United minutes after halftime when Marcus Rashford delivered a pinpoint pass and he calmly went around goalkeeper Emi Martinez and slotted home, but VAR showed he was offside.
United continued to attack in waves, with seven shots on target to Villa’s four, and were finally rewarded in the final half hour.
Hojlund, who signed for United in August from Atalanta, had five goals in four Champions League games but the striker’s lack of league scoring had raised questions in recent weeks.
He answered them on Tuesday, and Ten Hag, Garnacho and keeper Andre Onana took turns wrapping the young player in hugs after the final whistle.
“Yes I remember the goal,” Hojlund said. “First-time finish in off the post, good finish so I am happy. I am happy for the three of us attackers as well because we showed a lot of character today, and a lot of confidence.”
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Tributes have poured in after the son of former Chelsea star Eddie Newton was found dead alongside his friend following a hike in the UAE, where temperatures soared to 50C.
Cassius Newton, 34, and his friend Aran Martinson, 33, were found by rescuers on July 18 after setting out on a hike in the mountainous Wadi Naqab region.
The pair, from Dorset and Essex respectively, both lived and worked in the UAE. Their bodies were discovered between 3km and 4km from their vehicle.
According to a report, Chelmsford area coroner Michelle Brown said their provisional causes of death included cardiac and respiratory arrest.
Cassius, a non-league footballer, was the son of former Chelsea midfielder and coach Eddie Newton, who spent more than a decade with the club.
His wife was in the UK when she became concerned after Cassius failed to contact her following the hike and reported him missing.
The two men had been living at a luxury resort in Ras Al Khaimah.
Tributes after desert tragedy
Tributes poured in after the deaths.
Aran’s wife described him as “incredibly driven, hardworking and ambitious”, saying he had recently begun a new chapter in his career and was excited about the future.
Blackfield & Langley Football Club paid tribute to their former player, saying: “It is with heavy hearts that we share the sad news of the passing of former player Cassius Newton; our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with his family and friends during this difficult time.”
National League club Eastleigh, where Cassius had previously played, said it was “deeply saddened” by his death.
Chelsea connection
Cassius’ father Eddie Newton played for Chelsea from 1990 to 2001 and famously scored in the club’s 1997 FA Cup final victory.
The former midfielder also represented Cardiff City, Birmingham City, Oxford United and Barnet.
After retiring as a player, Newton moved into coaching, working as assistant manager at MK Dons and West Brom before returning to Chelsea.
He later served as assistant manager under Roberto Di Matteo and Rafael Benítez.
(With inputs from BBC, The Sun)
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