Manchester United 1-2 Leeds: Casemiro 69; Okafor 5, 29
Manchester United may have spent last week at a training camp outside Dublin in intense preparation for the Premier League run-in, but once back on the pitch on the big stage there was no evidence of it to be found, Leeds United running amok in the first half-hour to grab an advantage that led to a crucial 2-1 victory at Old Trafford.
This is a highly positive result for Daniel Farke’s men. They had drawn seven of their previous eight away league games, but a win in what was supposed to be one of their toughest fixtures in the run-in has moved them six points clear of 18th-placed Tottenham, bringing survival ever so close and sounding the death knell on Spurs’ stay in the Premiership.
Leeds now face Wolves on Saturday. If they win and Tottenham lose to Brighton, Farke’s side could pull further clear of the relegation zone.
Noah Okafor scored both Leeds goals in the first half as a United team that lacked pace, energy and seemingly any idea of what the night was all about only stood and watched. This is Leeds’ first league win at Old Trafford since 1981. It is also Michael Carrick’s first home defeat as interim coach.
United may not have been helped by the presence of the seriously out-of-form Manuel Ugarte from the start, occasioned by an injury to Kobbie Mainoo. With the Uruguayan present Leeds found it easy to play in midfield, although United’s overall lethargy may have been the major factor.
In another team change, Carrick had dropped Bryan Mbeumo to bring in Benjamin Sesko as his striker, but the change did not produce a goal. United’s task was made harder when defender Lisandro Martinez was sent off in the 56th minute. After a VAR review, referee Paul Tierney judged that Martinez had pulled Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s hair, a red-card offence.
🟥 Referee checks VAR, Lisandro Martinez is sent off for pulling Calvert-Lewin’s hair. 0-2 pic.twitter.com/vepaRVrNwo
— Leeds United (@LUFC) April 13, 2026
Leeds’ opener came as early as the 5th minute when Jayden Bogle beat Luke Shaw on the right and crossed. A slow and flat-footed Leny Yoro failed to clear and Okafor steered it home. The second arrived just before the half-hour mark. Okafor was allowed far too much time and space by sleeping United defenders and he fired from outside the box, beating goalkeeper Senne Lammens and finding the bottom right corner.
Manchester United improved after the break but struggled to create clear patterns of play. Casemiro pulled one back on minute 69 with a header from Bruno Fernandes’ cross, and despite being one-man down they piled on the pressure.
Goalkeeper Karl Darlow made important saves to deny both Matheus Cunha and Sesko, while Calvert-Lewin also blocked two late efforts. Leeds held on.
