In a thrilling turn of events at Old Trafford, Manchester United’s coach, Erik ten Hag, couldn’t contain his joy as his team orchestrated a stunning comeback against Brentford in the Premier League, courtesy of Scott McTominay’s remarkable late brace.
The Red Devils found themselves on the brink of a third consecutive home defeat, with Brentford leading 1-0 deep into injury time. However, the introduction of super-sub Scott McTominay proved to be the turning point. McTominay etched his name in the annals of Manchester United history by netting twice in the 93rd and 97th minutes, securing an astonishing victory for the home side.
McTominay, with just five touches to his name, pulled off an incredible feat after coming on as a substitute for Sofyan Amrabat in the 87th minute. His two late goals, worth their weight in gold, spared Manchester United from defeat and prevented them from slipping into the bottom half of the Premier League standings. The visitors, Brentford, had taken the lead through Mathias Jensen in the 26th minute, putting the Red Devils in a precarious position.
Reflecting on Manchester United’s incredible comeback, Coach Ten Hag was overjoyed, likening the moment to striking gold. He expressed his immense pride in the team’s unwavering determination and the crucial role played by the fans, whose unwavering support spurred the players on to victory. Ten Hag shared, “We created our own luck. I’m really proud of this team. They never gave up and maintained their faith. I also want to thank the fans. Their continuous support has been a tremendous boost to the players. I felt their eruption of happiness. I can’t put this feeling into words, but it’s truly wonderful.”
Before McTominay’s late heroics, Manchester United had encountered a resolute Brentford defense that had kept them at bay for over 90 minutes. Despite taking 19 shots and commanding more than 60% of ball possession, they had managed just six attempts on target.
For most of the match, Ten Hag’s team seemed to lack ideas in attack, struggling to break down Brentford’s formidable defensive trio of Nathan Collins, Ethan Pinnock, and Kristoffer Ajer, who collectively thwarted the Red Devils with a total of 29 clearances, six interceptions, and five blocks.
Few could have predicted the heroics of Scott McTominay, who, with little more than 10 minutes on the field, seized the opportunity to secure victory for Manchester United. The midfielder capitalized on a defensive mistake after goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha parried a shot from Antony, demonstrating excellent ball control to slot the ball into the net.
McTominay completed his brace with a well-placed header from Harry Maguire’s cross, following a free-kick near the midfield. After the match, McTominay expressed his elation, saying, “Those are two of my favorite moments on the field. The two late goals were unbelievable. I am delighted to contribute to the team’s victory and show everyone what I am capable of.”
The victory kept Manchester United in ninth place in the Premier League standings, although Crystal Palace later pushed them down to 10th following a goalless draw with Nottingham Forest. Erik ten Hag and his team will return to Premier League action after the international break, facing Sheffield United on October 21.