Jamie Vardy rolled the ball into the net to huge cheers, but the goal did not stand as play had already been stopped while Ayden Heaven received treatment. Meanwhile, the visiting supporters sang the name of Ruud van Nistelrooy, though not in support of the Leicester manager. The Dutchman had overseen a victory in the reverse fixture earlier in the season while serving as Manchester United’s interim manager, but this time he was on the receiving end of a 3-0 defeat.
For Van Nistelrooy, his previous four-match unbeaten run with United must now feel like a distant memory, as Leicester have suffered 13 losses in their last 14 league matches. Their struggles at home have been particularly bleak, with this latest defeat marking their seventh consecutive home loss without scoring, a new Premier League record. They now find themselves nine points adrift of safety with a difficult run of fixtures ahead, including a trip to Manchester City.
Alejandro Garnacho doubled United’s lead midway through the second half, building on Rasmus Højlund’s opening goal, which ended a personal drought of more than 22 hours on the pitch without scoring. Bruno Fernandes sealed the victory in the final moments with a first-time finish from the edge of the box, capping off a successful week in which United also progressed to the Europa League quarter-finals.
The match itself was a low-quality contest, with both sides struggling for precision. Overhit passes, misplaced crosses, and unforced errors were common. Christian Eriksen came close for United early on, striking the post with a well-hit effort after a short-corner routine.
United took the lead approaching the half-hour mark, much to the relief of their supporters. Fernandes played a clever pass to Højlund, whose initial chest control set up his shot. After a brief hesitation, likely due to his barren run, he struck the ball past Mads Hermansen. The goal was a crucial confidence booster for the forward, with his coach acknowledging its importance.
One of United’s standout performers was 18-year-old Ayden Heaven, making his first Premier League start. He made crucial interventions to deny Leicester opportunities, notably blocking efforts from Patson Daka and Bilal El Khannouss. However, his promising performance was cut short when he was forced off early in the second half after halting another Leicester attack.
Leicester had brief glimpses of an equalizer, including a chance when Vardy set up Daka, but Heaven’s presence made the finish difficult, resulting in a missed shot. United thought they had doubled their lead earlier when Højlund set up Garnacho, but the goal was disallowed for offside. However, the young Argentinian would not be denied for long, firing in a second goal after a smart pass from Fernandes.
With the result all but secured, United’s supporters enjoyed the closing moments, chanting the names of legendary players, including Wayne Rooney, Ole Gunnar Solskjær, and Andy Cole. The away fans also voiced their backing for the current manager, Ruben Amorim, who acknowledged their support but remained aware of the work still to be done. Despite United’s inconsistencies, the result provided a much-needed lift as they continue their campaign.
