MADRID, 30 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Manchester United continues to fall in free fall in the Premier League after losing the third consecutive match at Old Trafford, this time against a Newcastle team that was much better (0-2) and will remain fifth in the table, while Chelsea, fourth, They fell at the home of an Ipswich team that is still in the red zone and Aston Villa and Brighton sealed a draw in an even match.
The changes on the Old Trafford bench still did not have the desired results and Rúben Amorim’s men lost against the ‘Magpies’ by a 0-2 scoreline in just 19 minutes of play, with goals from Alexander Isak and Joelinton. Newcastle United could have scored more against a Manchester United team that created little danger, but the scoreboard no longer moved.
Yes he did before reaching the 4th minute of play, when Swedish international Alexander Isak headed in, free to score in the area despite United playing with three centre-backs, to open the scoring.
He did it with a cross from Anthony Gordon, who in the 19th minute struck again from the left wing of Eddie Howe’s team’s attack so that Joelinton, who came in with everything from the ‘Magpies’ second line, finished in the small area. without much resistance, if not any, and will surpass a sold-out André Onana.
Despite Old Trafford’s attempts to encourage their team, the first dangerous shot did not come until the 34th minute, when the Dane Rasmus Hojlund sent an attempted half-ball too wide before the departure of the Newcastle goalkeeper, a veteran Martin Dúbravka who solved well the little work he had until reaching the break.
Of course, the ‘Red Devils’ improved in the second half and had more chances, such as the post that central defender Harry Maguire found after a long attacking play – after an accurate, sharp and powerful header – and a subsequent shot which Lewis Hall took out as best he could, with his crotch. Victory that leaves Newcastle fourth, with 1 point more than Manchester City, while United has its third consecutive defeat and is fourteenth, 7 points away from relegation.
A quarter of an hour before the duel between the local team and Chelsea ended in Ipwsich, who stumbled at Portman Road (2-0). Ipswich Town took the lead with an early penalty caused and scored by Liam Delap, who shortly after forced the Chelsea goalkeeper, the Danish Filip Jörgensen, to show off to avoid the 2-0 lead in the 13th minute.
Chelsea tried to recover, but a goal disallowed by the VAR against former Blaugrana João Félix and a shot against the post by Cole Palmer warned the Blues that it was not going to be an easy night. And it was not, among other factors, due to the ‘stoppages’ of Christian Walton, who prevented Palmer’s equalizer just before the break.
And despite the efforts of Palmer, undoubtedly the best in Enzo Maresca’s team, the ‘Tractor Boys’ of Northern Irishman Kieran McKenna were more successful. In the 53rd minute, Delap confirmed his great performance with an individual play that culminated with a low pass behind so that Omari Hutchinson beat Jörgensen with a cross shot and sealed the match.
More even, but almost more exciting, was the draw between Aston Villa and Brighton (2-2) at Villa Park. The ‘seagulls’ started strong and scored with a well-sought goal by Simon Adingra, who along with his teammate Joao Pedro chased a long ball until he was able to leave the ball in the back of the goal defended by ‘Dibu’ Emiliano Martínez.
But a penalty converted by Ollie Watkins in the 36th minute and an early goal from Morgan Rogers two minutes after the restart put the home team, coached by Spaniard Unai Emery, ahead. The ‘villains’ seemed to have everything under control, with good opportunities to score.
That sentence did not come and a great play by the Japanese Kaoru Mitoma, who came on as a refresher, in combination with Joao Pedro and a first-time shot by Tariq Lamptey allowed the ‘seagulls’ to equalize the clash in the 81st minute and sign a draw that leaves Aston Villa ninth and Brighton tenth, the same 2 points away with which they started the game.
-RESULTS AND PROGRAM OF DAY 19 IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE.
-Domingo.
Leicester – Manchester City 0-2.
Crystal Palace – Southampton 2-1.
Everton – Nottingham Forest 0-2.
Fulham – Bournemouth 2-2.
Tottenham – Wolverhampton 2-2.
West Ham – Liverpool 0-5.
-Monday, December 30.
Aston Villa – Brighton 2-2.
Ipswich – Chelsea 2-0.
Manchester United – Newcastle 0-2.
-Wednesday, January 1.
Brentford – Arsenal.