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Substitutes Anthony Elanga and Fred were both on target for Manchester UnitedManchester United survived a stirring Leeds United comeback at an emotional Elland Road to put themselves back in the Premier League's top four with a crucial victory.
In the first game in front of fans between the two old rivals at Elland Road since October 2003, they produced a fitting spectacle played out in a deluge and a predictably thunderous atmosphere.
Manchester United were in complete control at the break after captain Harry Maguire headed in Luke Shaw's corner, and Bruno Fernandes did the same from Jadon Sancho's cross right on half-time.
Leeds, however, mounted a superb revival and were level with two goals inside a minute as Rodrigo's 53rd-minute cross drifted in behind keeper David de Gea, then substitute Raphinha sent Elland Road into raptures when he slid home a cross from Daniel James.
Manchester United gathered themselves, manager Ralf Rangnick made changes, and one of his substitutes produced the rewards as Fred drove in at Illan Meslier's near post following more good work by Sancho with 20 minutes left - although Anthony Elanga was struck by objects thrown from the crowd amid the celebrations.
Elanga recovered to confirm Manchester United's win with a composed finish two minutes from time from Fernandes' pass.
Red Devils take tough road to victory
Manchester United's victory came in three phases - the control of the first half, the shock of Leeds United's quick one-two, then the recovery to finally close out the victory they deserved.
This was always going to be a test of mettle and for a spell after the break when Leeds scored those two quick goals and were winning all the 50-50s in this most raucous of environments, it looked like they would not come through the examination unscathed.
Manchester United's players looked shell-shocked at the turn of events that allowed Leeds, who looked deflated at half-time, to revive themselves and even threaten a victory that would have been the sweetest of all for the home fans, who made their dislike of the visitors clear before, during and after this game.
Manager Rangnick, however, deserves credit for the changes that restored Manchester United's equilibrium, Fred coming on to put them back in front and another substitute, Elanga, snuffing out any hope Leeds had of a point with the fourth.
Manchester United will feel they deserved the win over the whole piece, but they were still fragile at times and were rocking under Leeds attacks until Fred silenced the crowd, albeit temporarily.
There were unsavoury scenes when Elanga needed to be attended to after being hit by missiles thrown from the crowd after Fred's goal, but he was able to regain his composure to such an extent that he struck the final blow in the closing moments.
Manchester United enjoyed their second win in a week, moving back into the top four, but will know they need to keep winning with Arsenal four points behind in sixth with three games in hand.
More to follow.
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Leeds United
Squad number1Player nameMeslier
Squad number2Player nameAyling
Squad number14Player nameLlorente
Squad number21Player nameStruijk
Squad number15Player nameDallas
Squad number4Player nameForshaw
Squad number5Player nameKoch
Squad number20Player nameJames
Squad number43Player nameKlich
Squad number22Player nameHarrison
Squad number19Player nameRodrigo
Squad number3Player nameFirpo
Squad number10Player nameRaphinha
Squad number30Player nameGelhardt
Manchester United
Squad number1Player namede Gea
Squad number29Player nameWan-Bissaka
Squad number2Player nameLindelöf- Squad number5Player nameMaguire
Squad number23Player nameShaw
Squad number6Player namePogba
Squad number39Player nameMcTominay
Squad number14Player nameLingard- Squad number18Player nameBruno Fernandes
- Squad number25Player nameSancho
- Squad number7Player nameCristiano Ronaldo
Squad number17Player nameFred- Squad number19Player nameVarane
- Squad number36Player nameElanga
Line-ups
Leeds
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Meslier
- 2AylingBooked at 68mins
- 14LlorenteSubstituted forGelhardtat 45'minutes
- 21StruijkBooked at 61mins
- 15Dallas
- 4ForshawBooked at 76mins
- 5KochSubstituted forFirpoat 31'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 20James
- 43KlichBooked at 90mins
- 22HarrisonSubstituted forRaphinhaat 45'minutesBooked at 81mins
- 19Rodrigo
Substitutes
- 3Firpo
- 10Raphinha
- 11Roberts
- 13Klaesson
- 26Bate
- 30Gelhardt
- 35Cresswell
- 46Shackleton
- 54Kenneh
Man Utd
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1de Gea
- 29Wan-Bissaka
- 2Lindelöf
- 5Maguire
- 23ShawBooked at 90mins
- 6PogbaSubstituted forFredat 67'minutes
- 39McTominayBooked at 77mins
- 14LingardSubstituted forElangaat 67'minutes
- 18Bruno Fernandes
- 25Sancho
- 7Cristiano RonaldoBooked at 56minsSubstituted forVaraneat 85'minutes
Substitutes
- 8Mata
- 10Rashford
- 17Fred
- 19Varane
- 20Dalot
- 26Henderson
- 27Telles
- 31Matic
- 36Elanga
Live Text
Match ends, Leeds United 2, Manchester United 4.
Second Half ends, Leeds United 2, Manchester United 4.
Mateusz Klich (Leeds United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Mateusz Klich (Leeds United).
Scott McTominay (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Junior Firpo (Leeds United) is shown the yellow card.
Luke Shaw (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card.
Junior Firpo (Leeds United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Scott McTominay (Manchester United).
Goal! Leeds United 2, Manchester United 4. Anthony Elanga (Manchester United) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Bruno Fernandes.
Attempt blocked. Aaron Wan-Bissaka (Manchester United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Bruno Fernandes.
Foul by Adam Forshaw (Leeds United).
Fred (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Manchester United. Raphaël Varane replaces Cristiano Ronaldo.
Offside, Manchester United. Bruno Fernandes tries a through ball, but Cristiano Ronaldo is caught offside.
Attempt missed. Rodrigo (Leeds United) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Raphinha.
Joe Gelhardt (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Victor Lindelöf (Manchester United).
Offside, Leeds United. Daniel James tries a through ball, but Junior Firpo is caught offside.
Corner, Leeds United. Conceded by David de Gea.
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