Manchester United 3-2 Aston Villa: Rasmus Hojlund ends goal drought to secure stunning Boxing Day comeback

The hosts appeared destined to another disappointing defeat before a remarkable second half
Alex Young @alexwsyoung26 December 2023

Rasmus Hojlund scored his first Premier League goal after 1,027 minutes as Manchester United came from behind to beat Aston Villa in a stunning Boxing Day comeback.

Trailing 2-0 at half-time, Alejandro Garnacho scored twice - after having another disallowed - before the £72million striker fired home with a little under 10 minutes to play. Hojlund was substituted shortly afterward to a standing ovation.

Erik ten Hag's team were booed off at half-time after John McGinn and Leander Dendoncker had given Villa a commanding first-half lead.

McGinn scored for Villa in the 21st minute from a long free kick that sailed past several players and into the bottom left corner. Dendoncker then doubled their lead five minutes later from close range when an unmarked Clement Lenglet headed a corner kick back across goal. United appeared headed for their ninth defeat in 19 league games before Garnacho netted his first in the 59th minute with a fierce shot from the centre of the box. He equalised for the hosts in the 71st after a give-and-go with Bruno Fernandes.

United climbed to sixth in the standings on 31 points, while Villa, who lost for the first time in 11 games in all competitions, are third with 39.

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