Manchester United’s Rasmus Hojlund celebrates after scoring his facet’s opening objective in the course of the English Premier League soccer match between Luton Town and Manchester United at Kenilworth Road, in Luton, England, on February 18, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AP
Rasmus Hojlund’s early double proved sufficient to safe Manchester United an absorbing 2-1 Premier League victory at Luton Town on Sunday and push them nearer to the battle for the highest 4.
In-form Danish striker Hojlund pounced on a defensive error to provide United the lead after 37 seconds after which made it 2-0 with solely seven minutes on the clock to place his facet in management.
The 21-year-old has now scored in six successive Premier League video games — the youngest participant ever to take action.
Relegation battlers Luton dusted themselves down from Hojlund’s early salvo although and responded with Carlton Morris’s courageous header halving the deficit within the 14th minute.
The solely shock then in a wide-open recreation was that there have been no extra objectives as each side carved out good probabilities.
Sixth-placed United have been responsible of losing a number of gilt-edged alternatives within the second half whereas Luton’s Ross Barkley headed towards the crossbar in stoppage time.
United’s fourth successive league win put them on 44 factors from 25 video games, 5 factors behind Aston Villa who’re fourth.
Hojlund took till December to attain his first Premier League objective since United paid 72 million kilos ($90.71 million) to signal him from Italian membership Atalanta in August.
But he’s now paying again that switch payment, taking the warmth off supervisor Erik ten Hag and serving to United make a powerful cost in the direction of qualification for the Champions League.
“We recruited him on character and knew he was a strong character,” Ten Hag stated. “He can perform under stress and that’s a skill you need as a United striker.
“You see it now, he has lots of confidence and I’m positive he’ll rating much more.”
His opening goal at Kenilworth Road was the typical poacher’s effort, seizing on a terrible back pass by Amari’i Bell before rounding keeper Thomas Kaminski to score.
United were completely dominant in the early exchanges and camped in Luton’s half and doubled their lead when Alejandro Garnacho volleyed towards goal and Hojlund cleverly deflected the ball past Kaminski with his chest.
At that stage United looked capable of running up a cricket score but Luton came to their senses and got back into the game when Morris dived to head in after Tahith Chong’s attempted shot at goal bounced up and he beat Andre Onana to the ball.
With Luton’s confidence restored they had chances to level before halftime with Morris and Alfie Doughty both shooting narrowly wide of the target.
Casemiro was booked for United in the first half and was involved in several other questionable tackles and was substituted along with Harry Maguire at halftime.
United really should have secured the victory in the second half with Marcus Rashford going close while both Bruno Fernandes and Garnacho failed to convert after going clear on goal with only Kaminski to beat.
Those missed opportunities almost cost United dear as the excellent Barkley almost nicked an equaliser.
Luton remain in 17th place with 20 points from 24 games although Everton could climb above them if they get a point against Crystal Palace on Monday.
“You cannot give United a two-goal lead like that and we gave ourselves a mountain to climb,” manager Rob Edwards said.
“We gave it a very good go and believed in what we do. Pleased with how we responded and the way courageous we have been.”
