Early Hojlund double seals Man Utd win at Luton

2 years ago 42

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By Phil McNultyChief football writer at Kenilworth Road

Last updated on 3 minutes ago.From the section Premier League

Rasmus Hojlund scores Manchester United's opening goal at Luton

Rasmus Hojlund scored for the sixth successive Premier League game as Manchester United survived a Luton Town display of fierce determination to stay in contention for the top four with victory at Kenilworth Road.

United's £72m summer signing from Atalanta has hit a red-hot streak after early struggles in front of goal and scored twice in the first seven minutes to set up a fourth successive league win for Erik ten Hag's side.

The 21-year-old pounced on Amari'i Bell's error after only 37 seconds to round keeper Thomas Kaminski and score, adding a second in the seventh minute, instinctively diverting Alejandro Garnacho's shot into the net.

Luton Town, in an uproarious atmosphere, responded with defiance and character, Carlton Morris swiftly giving the Hatters hope with a header as United struggled to cope with the intensity of the home side, especially in the opening half.

United lost defender Luke Shaw to injury before the interval, while Harry Maguire and Casemiro also went off at the break, but for all Luton's second-half endeavour it was the visitors who created the better chances, Kaminski denying Garnacho, Bruno Fernandes, Rashford, and a Hojlund hat-trick.

However, there was one more nervous moment for the visitors in stoppage time when Ross Barkley's glancing header clipped the top of the crossbar.

The win means United are now only five points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa.

More to follow.

Line-ups

Luton

Formation 3-4-2-1

24Kaminski
15Mengi
2OshoBooked at 87mins
29Bell
7Ogbene
28Sambi Lokonga
6Barkley
45DoughtySubstituted forBerryat 82'minutes
9Morris
14ChongSubstituted forClarkat 68'minutes
10WoodrowBooked at 17minsSubstituted forTownsendat 68'minutesBooked at 70mins

Substitutes

3Potts
8Berry
12Kaboré
16Burke
17Mpanzu
18Clark
23Krul
30Townsend
43Nelson

Man Utd

Formation 4-2-3-1

24Onana
20Dalot
19Varane
5MaguireBooked at 42minsSubstituted forEvansat 45'minutes
23ShawBooked at 20minsSubstituted forLindelöfat 45+2'minutesBooked at 81mins
37MainooBooked at 75mins
18CasemiroBooked at 34minsSubstituted forMcTominayat 45'minutes
17Garnacho
8Bruno Fernandes
10Rashford
11HøjlundSubstituted forS Amrabatat 86'minutes

Substitutes

1Bayindir
2Lindelöf
4S Amrabat
14Eriksen
16Diallo
21Antony
35Evans
39McTominay
62Forson

Referee:David Coote

Attendance:11,483

Live Text

Match ends, Luton Town 1, Manchester United 2.
Second Half ends, Luton Town 1, Manchester United 2.
Ross Barkley (Luton Town) hits the bar with a header from the centre of the box. Assisted by Luke Berry with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Luton Town. Conceded by Diogo Dalot.
Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Albert Sambi Lokonga.
Attempt blocked. Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Marcus Rashford.
Corner, Luton Town. Conceded by Diogo Dalot.
Corner, Luton Town. Conceded by Sofyan Amrabat.
Corner, Luton Town. Conceded by Diogo Dalot.
Attempt missed. Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the left.
Offside, Manchester United. Raphaël Varane is caught offside.
Gabriel Osho (Luton Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Gabriel Osho (Luton Town).
Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Substitution, Manchester United. Sofyan Amrabat replaces Rasmus Højlund.
Attempt missed. Chiedozie Ogbene (Luton Town) left footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Andros Townsend.
Corner, Luton Town. Conceded by Scott McTominay.
Attempt blocked. Andros Townsend (Luton Town) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Teden Mengi.
Substitution, Luton Town. Luke Berry replaces Alfie Doughty.
Victor Lindelöf (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.