Man United bounce back with 2-0 EPL win over Sunderland
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Manchester United striker Benjamin Sesko celebrates after scoring against Sunderland.
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LONDON – Manchester United cruised to a rare comfortable home English Premier League victory on Oct 4, as goals from Mason Mount and Benjamin Sesko secured a 2-0 win over Sunderland.
With the pressure growing on manager Ruben Amorim after a disappointing start to the season, midfielder Mount calmed the nerves around Old Trafford with a fine early finish to break the deadlock.
United continued to dominate, with a spectacular save from Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs preventing Bruno Fernandes from adding a sumptuous second, before Sesko netted his first Old Trafford goal after 31 minutes.
“Definitely important to win the game... We were fighting to the end, thankfully we won the game in the end,” said the striker.
“It’s always a lot of pressure especially in a club like this. We always take it in a positive way, we showed once again that we can play well and win games. It’s important now to continue like that.”
On scoring his first goal at Old Trafford, Sesko, 22, who netted in the 3-1 loss at Brentford last weekend, said: “Amazing, the atmosphere after the goal is something I’ve dreamt about always. Hopefully I can carry on this way.
“Definitely important for me. In general for the team, it’s even more important... We are training every single week, we are trying to know where to be in every situation. We’re getting better and better.”
Sunderland were awarded a penalty late in the first half, a decision that was overturned following a video assistant referee intervention, but they never really threatened after the break as United eased to a third home league win of the season.
Meanwhile, Arsenal provisionally moved top of the Premier League as Declan Rice scored against his old club West Ham United in a 2-0 home victory in a lop-sided London derby.
Midfielder Rice rammed home a rebound in the 38th minute to reward Arsenal’s domination against a defensive West Ham, who failed to register a shot on target.
Bukayo Saka then made the points safe from the penalty spot in the 67th minute to make it a satisfying 300th game in charge for Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.
It capped a fine week for Arsenal, who snatched a late comeback win at Newcastle United last weekend before beating Olympiakos in the Champions League in midweek.
Arteta’s side have 16 points from their opening seven games, one more than Liverpool although the champions could reclaim top spot with a win at Chelsea in the later game – the result of which was unavailable at press time.
Saka is now just the second Arsenal player to score on their 200th Premier League appearance, after Thierry Henry. He said: “Thierry messaged me this morning to remind we lost the last two games to West Ham at home. He is always pushing me. I am really happy to have my name with his records.”
In the day’s early match, Tottenham Hotspur beat Leeds United 2-1 thanks to a goal and assist from Mohammed Kudus that consigned the home side to a first league defeat at Elland Road in over a year.
The Ghanaian created the opening goal for Mathys Tel for his fourth assist of the Premier League campaign, before the £55 million (S$96 million) signing scored his first goal for the club in a rain-soaked second half.
Noah Okafor cancelled out Tel’s opener in a first half that raged from end to end, but in the end Leeds’ unbeaten home run ended at 23 league games.
“I’ve definitely been waiting (for my first Spurs goal). As an attacker, it boosts your confidence when you score,” Kudus told TNT Sports. “We now go to represent our country and come back with the same focus. This is a big step in the right direction.”
Last season, Tottenham lost more points from winning positions than any other side in the Premier League on their way to finishing just above the relegation zone in 17th.
Manager Thomas Frank has so far stamped out that habit as Spurs are yet to drop points after taking the lead in a match. He said: “I thought we played overall a really good game.
“We should have got more out of the dangerous situations. I know they hit the post and the goal, and right at the end there was carnage, but for the rest of the game I thought we defended superbly.” AFP, REUTERS
