Manchester United ended their Old Trafford hoodoo against Burnley with a hard-fought 3-1 triumph in the Premier League on Sunday evening.
Both teams had chances to break the deadlock in the first 45 minutes, with Chris Wood going close on several occasions - including a first-minute header ruled out for offside - while Mason Greenwood spurned a golden opportunity of his own to put the Red Devils ahead before the half-time whistle blew.
Sean Dyche's men arguably had the better opportunities in the opening period, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer electing to introduce Edinson Cavani for the second half as United looked to break down a staunch Burnley rearguard.
Solskjaer's men needed only three minutes of the second half to do just that, as Greenwood finished off a swift attacking move with a first-time finish, but Burnley took just under two minutes to restore parity as James Tarkowski headed home from a corner.
The Clarets seemed destined to take a deserved point from the match, but Greenwood added a second before Edinson Cavani struck deep into added time to seal all three points for Solskjaer's side.
The Red Devils moved to within eight points of leaders Manchester City with Sunday's win, whereas Burnley remain 16th but six points clear of the drop zone.
Man United now have seven days to recover before they renew hostilities with Leeds United next Sunday, while Burnley will take on Wolverhampton Wanderers a few hours before on April 25.
HIGHLIGHTS
1st min: An early punt forward from Burnley ends with Chris Wood heading in with fewer than 30 seconds on the clock, but the goal is ruled out for offside. Dean Henderson in no man's land.
Wow. 😳
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 18, 2021
Burnley score after less than 20 seconds but the flag is up and Dean Henderson's blushes are spared! 👀
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4th min: Marcus Rashford turns excellently and finds Aaron Wan-Bissaka in plenty of space on the right - the defender picks out Scott McTominay but his effort is blocked.
10th min: Wan-Bissaka manages to pick out Paul Pogba in the area, and the Frenchman's header is kept out by a combination of the post and Bailey Peacock-Farrell in the Burnley goal.
14th min: Wood has a pop from outside the area, but Henderson gets down comfortably to save before Bruno Fernandes misses the target at the other end of the pitch. Lively start.
30th min: Rashford manages to get a shot away from a tight angle on the left, and Peacock-Farrell has to tip it over for a corner. Pogba meets Luke Shaw's corner but cannot direct his header on target.
🎙 | "Tight angle, decent effort!"
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 18, 2021
Marcus Rashford smashes a powerful effort at goal but Peacock-Farrell tips it over! 🧤
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31st min: Wood once again dangerous as he gets in between Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire to meet Matt Lowton's cross, but the Burnley man heads wide of the United goal.
35th min: Peacock-Farrell comes out and Rashford tumbles over in the area, but the goalkeeper kept his arms by his side and United's claims for a penalty are waved away.
38th min: Mason Greenwood should put United a goal to the good after Rashford's first-time ball across the box, but the youngster misjudges it and the ball rolls harmlessly away.
42nd min: Wood hits a left-footed volley wide of Henderson's near post - another golden opportunity for the New Zealand striker to break the deadlock.
48th min: United take the lead after a swift attacking sequence. Rashford easily skips past Lowton and fizzes a ball into the box - Bruno Fernandes lets it run for Greenwood, who curls home with a sweetly-struck first-time effort. 1-0 United.
50th min: Burnley draw level almost straight away. A pinpoint corner from Ashley Westwood is met by James Tarkowski, who outjumps Maguire to head home past a stranded Henderson. 1-1.
What a response! 💥
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 18, 2021
James Tarkowski beats Harry Maguire in the air to nod in the equaliser for Burnley! 🍷
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51st min: Dyche's side look to add a second, but Josh Brownhill's speculative effort is no problem for Henderson.
62nd min: Former Man United protege Dwight McNeil lets fly from the edge of the box, but his teammate Brownhill is in the firing line and the ball hits him square in the face.
70th min: United press for a second as Bruno Fernandes meets Luke Shaw's cross, but Peacock-Farrell gets down well to save the playmaker's header.
84th min: The effervescent Greenwood makes the difference for Man United once again. Paul Pogba picks out the Englishman on the left-hand side, and his effort takes a significant deflection off Jack Cork into the back of the net. 2-1 United.
Breakthrough for #MUFC!
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 18, 2021
Mason Greenwood's effort takes a huge deflection off of Jack Cork and gives the hosts a late lead at Old Trafford! 🔴
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90th min: Greenwood nearly turns provider for McTominay, but Peacock-Farrell is equal to his effort. Fernandes fails to double United's lead with an equally magnificent chance moments later.
90 +3 min: Cavani's substitution pays dividends. Donny van de Beek picks out the Uruguay international and he has the simple job of tapping home into an empty net. 3-1 United.
MAN OF THE MATCH - MASON GREENWOOD
© Reuters
After such a challenging start to the campaign, Mason Greenwood is proving his youthful qualities week in week out and his two goals set United on their way to a dramatic late triumph. Ben Mee, Marcus Rashford and Josh Brownhill deserve special mentions, but Greenwood's game-defining contributions are too good to ignore.
STANDOUT MOMENT
© Reuters
Manchester United conceded their 1000th Premier League goal in this game, and in calamitous fashion too. Just 114 seconds after drawing first blood, Tarkowski rose highest from a corner and Henderson could only stand and watch the ball sail into the back of the net.
The goal did not matter in the grand scheme of things, but Tarkowski will have a sense of personal satisfaction from scoring that landmark goal at Old Trafford.
BEST STAT
1000 - James Tarkowski's equaliser was the 1000th goal Manchester United have conceded in the Premier League, and came just 114 seconds after the Red Devils had opened the scoring. Short-lived. pic.twitter.com/5T1d6NDg8f
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 18, 2021
MATCH STATS
Possession: Man United 70%-30% Burnley
Shots: Man United 17-10 Burnley
Shots on target: Man United 9-3 Burnley
Corners: Man United 8-3 Burnley
Fouls: Man United 9-12 Burnley
LINEUPS
MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1): Henderson; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw: Fred (Cavani 45'), McTominay; Rashford (Van de Beek 84'), Fernandes, Pogba; Greenwood
BURNLEY (4-5-1): Peacock-Farrell; Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor; Gudmundsson (Rodriguez 88'), Cork, Westwood, Brownhill (Vydra 88'), McNeil; Wood
