Leeds United produced a shock 2–1 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford on Monday, with Noah Okafor scoring twice in the first half to secure a crucial win in their battle against relegation.
The win marked Leeds’ first top-flight victory over Manchester United since 2002 and their first league success at Old Trafford in 45 years, ending a long run of frustration in the historic rivalry.
Okafor capitalised on defensive errors to give Leeds an early lead before striking again in the 29th minute after further mistakes in United’s backline.
United’s evening worsened after the break when defender Lisandro Martínez was shown a straight red card for pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s hair following a VAR review, leaving the hosts to play with 10 men.
Despite their disadvantage, United pulled one back through Casemiro, who powered a header past Karl Darlow from a Bruno Fernandes cross in the 69th minute.
Leeds, however, held firm under sustained pressure in a frantic finale, with goalkeeper Darlow and the defence making key interventions to preserve the lead.
The result lifts Daniel Farke’s side six points clear of the relegation zone with six matches remaining, while also ending a four-game scoreless run in the league.
Leeds remain in strong contention across competitions, having also reached the FA Cup semi-finals where they will face Chelsea at Wembley on April 26.
For Manchester United, the defeat marks a setback in their push for Champions League qualification, as they remain in third place but have now dropped points in several recent matches.
Manager Michael Carrick, who has overseen a resurgence since taking interim charge, saw his side suffer only their second defeat in 11 games.
The rivalry between both clubs, one of the fiercest in English football, added further intensity to the encounter, with Old Trafford fans voicing frustration at full-time after the dramatic loss.
