Manchester United sinks Leeds in EPL

Leeds can't yet escape the fear that its return to the Premier League after a 16-year exile will end after two seasons

Anthony Elanga holds a finger to his lip as he celebrates Manchester United's fourth goal. However, there was no way to silence Leeds fans.

No chance. Not when he waited 19 years to see his arch-rival at land Road in the Premier League, initially on relegation and then on fans because of the pandemic.

Not when they came back just before two goals scored in 24 seconds to erase United's lead on Sunday.

Ultimately, however, the tide turned back in United's favor to win a six-goal thriller on a drenched pitch. Fred and Elanga won 4–2 to put United on course to remain in fourth place.

"The atmosphere was great," said United manager Ralph Rangnick. "Sometimes we had to cool things down on the pitch."

Leeds has yet to escape fears that his return to the Premier League after 16 years of relegation will end after two seasons. Just five points separate Marcelo Bielsa's side from the relegation zone.

The certainty of Premier League status is needed to invest in a stadium that has been heavily invested since Leeds was ousted from the world's richest league in 2004.

Parts appear to have changed little since the era that preceded the establishment of the Premier League in 1992 when Leeds defeated United to win the title the previous season.

Time has not ended the intensity of rivalries that are geographically separated from the Pennine Mountains and less than an hour on the road in northwestern England.

There were still chants about the Munich air disaster that killed eight United players in 1958.

And objects were showered on United players after captain Harry Maguire led the opener in the 34th minute from Luke Shaw's corner and then celebrated in front of home fans.

The game ended when Bruno Fernandes scored another goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time from a Jadon Sancho cross at the end of the first half.

Only during halftime did the rain intensify. The water splashed off the turf when the players returned and passed the ball.

Soon, United was no longer on the coast.

There was only 24 seconds of play for Leeds, which began the season as an unexpected goal for David de Gea.

Rodrigo appeared to be sending a cross from the left but the ball veered into the post and out of reach of the goalkeeper in the 53rd minute.

For the first time since Harry Kewell's major winner in September 2002, land Road fans saw a Premier League goal against United.

After celebrating, home supporters didn't have to wait long for another look. Dan James crossed the far post where Rafinha slipped past Shaw to nudge the ball over the line.

Leeds escaped a VAR review for a possible foul on Fernandes in the build-up to take pleasure in his recovery.

United were reversing until a clever team goal took the lead in the 70th. It started with Fernandes taking possession in his own half and running without a challenge before bowling the ball to Ronaldo.

Fred got a pass from the Portuguese before the ball was bowled to Sancho. A run in the penalty area gave England international time for a return pass to Fred and Brazil defeated Messier at their close position.

The worst excesses of this traditional rivalry were again evident in the ceremonies as Elanga was struck by an object.

But another comeback was beyond Leeds as United's quality prevailed to take the game away. Fernandes flicked the ball over Pascal Struijk before going over to Elanga to apply the finishing touches to complete a thrilling match.

"It was old school," Maguire said. "There was a lot of tackle. I'm sure it was good to see but thankfully we came out on top."

Wolverhampton hosts Leicester were seen in late Sunday's game.

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