Brentford beat Manchester United in thriller to boost European hopes.
Brentford delivered a blistering performance at the Gtech Community Stadium to secure a thrilling 4-3 victory over Manchester United, despite late goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo. The result marked another blow to United’s dwindling season, with manager Ruben Amorim left to count not only the cost of the defeat but a potentially serious injury to Matthijs de Ligt.
It was Mason Mount who got the visitors off to a promising start, netting just his second goal since joining United. The midfielder finished a slick move, connecting with a perfectly placed cross from Alejandro Garnacho to give United a 1-0 lead. Mount’s strike appeared to set the tone, offering early optimism for a side looking to end a dismal run in the Premier League.
But Brentford wasted little time mounting a response. Captain Mikkel Damsgaard’s cross in the 23rd minute took a heavy deflection off Luke Shaw—United’s stand-in skipper—and flew into the back of the net to level the score. The equaliser reinvigorated the home side and shifted momentum swiftly in their favour.
Controversial Goal Sparks Brentford Comeback
Just six minutes later, controversy struck. Kevin Schade rose high above United debutant Tyler Fredricson to power home a header, giving Brentford a 2-1 lead. But United’s players and Amorim were livid, pointing to an apparent injury to Matthijs de Ligt earlier in the buildup. The Dutch defender pulled up clutching his hamstring and remained down, but play was allowed to continue.
The sight of De Ligt asking to be substituted raised serious alarm bells, especially considering he was making his first start since recovering from an ankle injury that sidelined him throughout April. As Brentford celebrated, Amorim immediately rushed to speak with his centre-back, who headed straight down the tunnel—an ominous sign with a Europa League semi-final just days away.
Schade wasn’t done. With United’s defence reeling, he latched onto a pinpoint Bryan Mbeumo delivery to head in his second goal of the afternoon and Brentford’s third, 20 minutes from full-time. United were in disarray, their defence unable to cope with Brentford’s pace and aerial dominance.Then came the fourth. Brentford sliced through United’s backline yet again, with Michael Kayode threading a pass into Yoane Wissa, who coolly slotted home. The goal capped a stunning attacking display for the home side, who looked dangerous every time they surged forward.
To their credit, United didn’t fold completely. Garnacho, one of the few bright spots in an otherwise disjointed team, fired a spectacular long-range strike into the top corner in the 82nd minute to make it 4-2. The Argentine’s goal gave United a flicker of hope as they pushed for a late comeback.
In the fifth minute of added time, substitute Amad Diallo capitalised on a defensive lapse to bring United within one. With two minutes remaining in stoppage time, the match suddenly hung in the balance, but Brentford held firm to secure all three points.The defeat leaves United languishing in 15th place with just 39 points from 35 matches, while Brentford leap into ninth, just one point behind eighth-placed Bournemouth. For Amorim, who had made eight changes from the side that beat Athletic Bilbao in midweek, the match was as much about squad rotation as it was about results.
“We came here wanting the points,” Amorim told Sky Sports after the match. “But we had to be careful. Luke Shaw was taken off at half-time to keep him fresh. De Ligt’s injury worries me, not just for Thursday but for next season. We’re already without Martinez and Dalot, and the injuries keep piling up.”
With a pivotal second leg against Bilbao looming and a potential Europa League final in sight, United’s defensive crisis could not come at a worse time. The loss of De Ligt—who Amorim had hoped would anchor the back line through the season’s closing stages—now casts a long shadow over their European ambitions.For Brentford, meanwhile, the match was a statement of intent. Sharp, clinical, and relentless, they exposed United’s fragility with ruthless precision and gave their fans a performance to savour.
