Manchester United’s Casemiro celebrates scoring their first purpose with Bruno Fernandes on the English Premier League soccer match between Bournemouth and Manchester United on the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, southern England on May 20, 2023.
| Photo Credit: Reuters
Casemiro’s spectacular first-half purpose proved decisive as Manchester United gained 1-0 away to Bournemouth on Saturday to maneuver close by of Champions League qualification.
Erik ten Hag’s facet would have been assured of a spot amongst Europe’s elite subsequent season had Liverpool misplaced to Aston Villa however their arch-rivals got here from behind to safe a 1-1 draw.
Even so United now want only one level from their remaining two Premier League video games this season – with the London duo of Chelsea and Fulham visiting Old Trafford on Thursday and every week on Sunday respectively – to be assured of a Champions League place.
That would imply Ten Hag had achieved his key goal in his first season in cost, with United having already gained the League Cup forward of subsequent month’s FA Cup remaining in opposition to native rivals Manchester City at Wembley.
Marcus Rashford missed out for three-times European champions United with an unspecified sickness, the England ahead having additionally been sidelined from final week’s 2-0 win over Wolves as a consequence of a leg harm.
But regardless of his absence, United took simply 9 minutes to go forward on the south coast.
Christian Eriksen’s floated cross into the field was flicked into the trail of Casemiro by defender Marcos Senesi earlier than the Brazilian midfielder hooked in an acrobatic volley.
Dominic Solanke, nonetheless, may have equalised for Bournemouth however his low drive was well-saved by David de Gea.
Casemiro then tried to prime his purpose with a thumping drive from 35 yards that Neto did properly to carry.
Solanke too went shut when he headed simply over the crossbar within the final motion of the primary half.
David Brooks, making his first begin since being identified with most cancers in 2021, virtually levelled after the interval just for De Gea to show his fierce drive over the bar.
United, nonetheless, continued to push for a second purpose in opposition to a Bournemouth facet who had fought so exhausting to be assured of top-flight security lengthy earlier than this match kicked-off.
Bournemouth’s Illya Zabarnyi prevented United from extending their lead when the Ukrainian turned Bruno Fernandes’s first-time effort over the bar.
Fernandes’s highly effective shot stung the palms of Neto earlier than Bournemouth squandered an opportunity to equalise when substitute Kieffer Moore, with solely De Gea to beat, shot straight on the keeper, who saved together with his leg.
Bournemouth weren’t completed, with Senesi volleying on to the roof of the online in added time earlier than United made positive of victory.
