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News

Manchester United Played Attacking Football And It Was Glorious

By Travis Yoesting December 8, 2018
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The Red Devils crushed Fulham 4-1 at Old Trafford.
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On Wednesday, Jose Mourinho said his team scored four goals and tied 2-2. On Saturday his team scored four goals and won 4-1.

It’s a common refrain to say Jose Mourinho loves boring, defensive football. It’s mostly true these days, especially as he seems to favor long balls to big men in the box over any sort of technical play. His best results of the season (the win over Juventus springs to mind) have come via Route 1 football. 

But Manchester United can still play some attacking football, and when it does, it’s wonderful to watch.

The Red Devils routed Fulham 4-1 on Saturday at Old Trafford with some of the best goals the club has scored all season.

It started with Ashley Young, of all people. Once upon a time it wasn’t unusual for Young to score spectacular goals. But in his second life as a defender, he doesn’t cut inside to score bangers quite as much these days. 

The left back opened the scoring in the 13th minute when he danced around on the ball before skipping past Denis Odoi and ripping a wicked blast into the far side netting as Fulham keeper Sergio Rico flailed his arm nowhere near the swerving shot. 

Juan Mata made it 2-0 in the 28th minute with a fine finish from the top of the box.

Marcus Rashford nearly got on the score sheet in the first half but for a strong save on this blistering free kick.

Romelu Lukaku then got in on the scoring five minutes before halftime. Juan Mata was maybe marginally onside during some incisive passing after a short corner and he found the big Belgian who made no mistake with his finish.

Lukaku’s goal came three minutes shy of the striker reaching 1,000 straight minutes without a goal at Old Trafford in all competitions. 

In the second half, Fulham pulled one back on a penalty kick after Ander Herrera went through Aboubaker Kamara before kicking the ball away in the box. Kamara then converted the penalty, sending David De Gea the wrong way.

But Fulham’s chances for a comeback were destroyed a minute later when André Zambo Anguissa was sent off for a second yellow card. It’s hard to really tell what the Fulham midfielder did wrong on the play, other than getting attacked (pulled and hit) by Rashford, who escaped all punishment. 

Rashford then scored to put the game away in the 82nd minute.

Once again Rashford showed off his powerful shot, this time it was from open play, lashing a goal inside the near post. The speed at which a ball must be struck to beat a Premier League goalkeeper at the near post like this is not to be understated.

So for those keeping track at home, that’s four great goals from Manchester United against Fulham on Saturday. Let’s hope Mourinho keeps allowing his team to play this style of football instead of the boring as hell Route 1 football.

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