Match Report | Teams | Highlights | Post-Match Reaction
AFC Bournemouth 0 Manchester United 1 (Casemiro ‘9)
In a match to forget, Casemiro’s wonderful finish will live long in the memory and was enough to earn Manchester United the three points. His goal puts United within one point of guaranteed Champions League football with games against Chelsea and Fulham remaining.
United lined up without Rashford again, and his goal threat was sorely missed. Martial lasted seventy minutes and rarely caused much concern for the Bournemouth defence. Weghorst, his replacement, provided even less threat. Concerns about Sancho’s continued lack of confidence won’t be dampened down either by the time he got today. Garnacho did more in twenty minutes than he did in seventy. Despite that, United dominated possession and deserved the win.
Casemiro’s goal came after bright opening minutes from United. They were camped in the Bournemouth half, and a goal looked inevitable. Eriksen chipped a ball into the box to match Casemiro’s run, and the Brazilian reacted to a Bournemouth defender’s deflection by spinning and then volleying home from close in.
The early goal and the majority of possession weren’t enough for United to increase their lead but were enough to lull themselves into a false sense of security. All of Bournemouth’s chances, though they were few, came from United switching off mentally and allowing their opponents easy breaks into acres of space. They almost paid for their lack of mental fortitude in added-on time at the end of the game when Senesi volleyed just over.
No one will remember this game. Few will forget the goal.
Teams:
Manchester United:
De Gea, Wan-Bissaka , Varane, Lindelof, Shaw, Casemiro, Eriksen, Antony, Fernandes, Sancho, Martial.
Subs: Butland, Dalot, Maguire, Malacia, Fred, McTominay, Pellistri, Garnacho, Weghorst.
AFC Bournemouth:
Neto, Zabarnyi, Senesi, Kelly, Smith, Cook, Lerma, Anthony, Christie, Brooks, Solanke.
Subs: Travers, Stephens, Mepham, Ouattara, Stacey, Viña, Moore, Sadi, Adu-Adjei