Rasmus Hojlund’s record-breaking double was enough to earn Manchester United a tense 2-1 win at Luton – a fourth league victory in a row to take Erik ten Hag’s side closer to the top four.
The 21-year-old became the youngest Premier League player to score in six straight games as he put United two up inside seven minutes – clinically finishing after 36 seconds following Amari’i Bell’s mistake, before instinctively chesting in Alejandro Garnacho’s shot from a corner.
Carlton Morris rounded off a scintillating opening 15 minutes by pulling one back and Luton should have levelled with several big chances as they put United on the ropes, with Casemiro lucky not to see red for lunging on Ross Barkley while on a booking.
United were more settled after the break – with Casemiro taken off at the interval – and should have put the game to bed as Bruno Fernandes and Garnacho both failed to score despite both rounding Luton goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski.
The hosts pushed for an equaliser until the last kick of the game – with Barkley hitting the bar – but Rob Edwards queried the amount of added time in the second half, saying: “I don’t know where that one came from. Man Utd are winning 2-1 so it’s four minutes.”
But United held on to move within three points of fifth-placed Tottenham, with a top-five spot possibly being enough for a Champions League place next season.
Asked about Hojlund’s scintillating form in front of goal, with the striker now on eight goals in his last seven games in all competitions, Ten Hag told Sky Sports: “We recruited him as he’s a strong character. Although he’s 21 he can really perform under stress. That’s what you need as a Manchester United striker.
“He doesn’t get nervous or lose confidence when he’s not scoring. Once you are in a run, you see it, now he’s scoring and he’s in. That’s how he is now. He has a lot of confidence and I’m sure he’ll score more.”
… and so on.
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