THE SCOOP ON BRENTFORD VS. MANCHESTER UNITED

At Gtech Community Stadium, a thrilling climax saw Kristoffer Ajer’s close-range finish cancel out Mason Mount’s stoppage-time opening; Brentford dominated the game, scoring 29 shots; Thomas Frank: “This performance was one or two levels higher than the 4-0 win against them”
PREVIOUS

BY SIRAJ 31-03-2024

CREDITRED TO GEART GETTY IMAGES

Brentford deserved a point against Manchester United on Saturday after Kristoffer Ajer scored his second goal in two outings.

The away team seized the lead against the flow of play six minutes into the extra time period, with replacement Mason Mount scooping the ball past Bees goalkeeper Mark Flekken. However, Ajer converted Ivan Toney’s cutback three minutes later, resulting in a thrilling conclusion at Gtech Community Stadium.

Brentford was denied two shots by the woodwork, bringing the score to a tie at the interval.

BY SIRAJ 31-03-2024

CREDITRED TO GEART GETTY IMAGES

Thomas Frank made two changes to the team that lost narrowly at Burnley two weeks ago at Turf Moor.

The most noticeable addition was that of Yehor Yarmoliuk, who made his first start of the calendar year. The Ukrainian took Frank Onyeka’s place in the middle of the field.

In addition, Keane Lewis-Potter was brought back into the lineup to play left wing-back, taking the place of Sergio Reguilón, who was suspended.

Following their thrilling 4-3 victory against Liverpool in the FA Cup quarterfinals, Manchester United did not make any changes to their lineup.

Yarmoliuk did well to gain the byline and cut back looking for Jensen before the visitors evacuated the field. This was part of a cagey beginning that saw both teams have opportunities to score for themselves.

Marcus Rashford was the one who launched a counterattack for United shortly after that, but it was a move that ultimately resulted in Bruno Fernandes drawing the first opening for the away team off target.

The remainder of the half, as well as the entire encounter, was dominated by the Bees, who established themselves as the dominant team.

By putting in a lot of effort, Yoanne Wissa was able to take advantage of some lax defending on the part of the opposing team. He produced a low cross that Victor Lindelof had to clear.

Raphaël Varane, who was Lindelof’s partner in the central defense position, was subsequently had to return the favor as Brentford continued to exert pressure in an attempt to score the first goal of the evening.

The shot that Jensen took was blocked by Onana, and Ivan Toney’s free kick that was taken after a deft routine with Vitaly Janelt was successful in being cleared.

Almost immediately after that, Toney had the finest opportunity of the half. Nathan Collins exhibited a remarkable amount of vision in order to locate Wissa in space, and his flick around the corner allowed the England international to get close to the goal.

There was just Andre Onana to beat, and Toney’s effort came agonizingly back off the bottom of the keeper’s right-hand post. Meanwhile, United tried to clear the ball, and Wissa headed the corner that resulted in the shot missing the target.

A few seconds later, the woodwork would once again prevent Brentford from achieving the breakthrough that their exceptional start had more than justified.

In the end, Zanka’s thunderous back-post header came dangerously close to hitting the crossbar after a short corner routine that was played back to the original taker Jensen.

During the first half, Wissa had emerged as the embodiment of Brentford’s aspirations. It was on the outskirts of the home team’s territory when he won the ball back and then found Janelt using it.

The weighted ball that the German player threw over the top was ideal for the run of Toney, who left Lindelof on the ground as he cut inside and blasted just over the crossbar.

Onana had to be on his toes to save Lewis-Potter’s header from Ajer’s cross with the outside of his foot as the half came to a close. Janelt and Wissa both missed more attempts, and Onana had to be on his toes to stop the header. Frank’s team did not let up in their intensity.

Mount and Ajer score in Gtech finale drama.

At the beginning of the second period, Brentford had a series of corners, and Diogo Dalot then curled a shot that went wide of the mark.

The strong run that Wissa made from within his own half resulted in a shot that went wide of the target, and Flekken made an outstanding stop to prevent Rasmus Højlund from scoring at the opposite end of the field.

Onana then denied Yarmoliuk, and Lewis-Potter attempted to make a rebound but was unsuccessful. In the midst of yet another extended period of Bees pressure, the wide player also failed to hit the target with his header from Jensen’s cross.

In the next opportunity to come and go, Toney’s volley from Jensen’s lofted through ball was the one that came and went. As the game entered its last twenty minutes, the number of home shots reached 23 thanks to a bicycle shot by Lewis-Potter contained within the area.

As part of the first two substitutions made by the home team, Bryan Mbeumo took the place of Wissa, while Mikel Damsgaard was brought in to replace the extremely remarkable Yarmoliuk.

On the 73rd minute, Toney finally had the ball in the net when he latched on to Mbeumo’s assist; however, the forward was not allowed to score because he was millimeters offside.

With seven minutes remaining on the clock, Mbeumo’s magnificent volley cannon would head back off the woodwork, and Toney would then hook the Cameroonian’s corner over the crossbar. Both of these events would result in Brentford being denied yet another opportunity.

The fourth official announced that there would be nine further minutes added to the game, and it appeared as though Frank’s team was about to suffer the most brutal of ends.

Mason Mount, who had just entered the game as a replacement, took advantage of a cross from Casemiro and curled the ball into the far corner to give the away team a lead that they had earned through their own good fortune.

But there was more late drama to come, and the Gtech quickly went from being filled with anguish to being filled with excitement.

Saman Ghoddos lofted the ball high into the penalty area of Manchester United, and Ivan Toney did an outstanding job of keeping the ball alive.

Ajer scored the goal in front of the south stand as the forward made his way to the byline and laid the ball on a plate for him to score. This resulted in the restoration of the much-deserved parity.

Despite the fact that there was still time for the Bees to try their luck once more, United was able to clear Neal Maupay’s deep cross, and referee Hooper brought an exciting match to a stop in the 104th minute.

The Brentford starting eleven consists of: Flekken, Roerslev, Zanka, Ajer, Collins, Lewis-Potter, Ghoddos (86), Jensen, Yarmoliuk (69), Janelt, Toney, Wissa (70), and Damsgaard.

Players substituted off: Onyeka, Baptiste, Ji-soo, Trevitt, and Strakosha.

After Martinez’s substitution in the 69th minute, Manchester United’s starting lineup consists of Onana, Dalot, Lindelof, Varane, Maguire, Wan-Bissaka, McTominay, Mainoo, Garnacho, Fernandes, Rashford, Anthony, Højlund.

All four of Heaton, Amrabat, Kambwala, and Erikse were benched.

Number of attendees: 17,138