WATFORD, United Kingdom, Sporting Alert – Ashley Young bagged a brace and Manchester United held on to beat Watford 4-2 at Vicarage Road in the English Premier League on Tuesday.
The two goals against his former club on the day saw Young ending an 18-month goal drought.
The 32-year-old opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a low finish from Jesse Lingard’s pass and then curled home an excellent free-kick to double the lead in the 25th minute.
Anthony Martial made it 3-0 for Manchester United when he beat Watford goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes with a cool finish after 32 minutes.
Following the break, though, Watford made it a nervous finish for the visitors with two quickfire goals by Troy Deeney, who netted from the penalty spot, and Abdoulaye Doucoure, who finished past David de Gea with a well-guided effort in the 86th.
However, Lingard produced a moment of magic from a solo run to seal the win which puts Manchester United five points behind leaders Manchester City before the Citizens kickoff against Southampton on Wednesday.
UP NEXT
Watford will next host Tottenham on Saturday, December 2.
Manchester United stay on the road face Arsenal at Emirates Stadium on Saturday, December 2.
The Managers Words
Marco Silva: “We scored the first goal from a penalty and for me in that moment it was a second yellow card for Marcos Rojo, with 11 against 10 it would be really difficult for them.
“We made it difficult for them because we scored the second goal. Imagine if it was 11 v 10 at that moment. We started to create more problems for them, but then one counter attack from them and we should do different in that moment.”
Jose Mourinho: “I prefer to forget the five minutes where we conceded the goals and lost concentration, I prefer to focus on all the good things we did. We were in control and really dangerous in attacking situations. To play away from home and score four goals is really good.
“It’s a good lesson [for the players], and it’s good to have lessons without losing points. Maybe next time we are winning 2-0 or 3-0 the players will remember.”
Sky Sports Player Ratings
Watford: Gomes (7), Kiko Femenia (6), Prodl (5), Mariappa (5), Kabasele (5), Zeegelaar (6), Cleverley (5), Doucoure (6), Hughes (5), Gray (5), Richarlison (6)
Subs: Pereyra (6), Carrillo (6), Deeney (6)
Man Utd: De Gea (6), Valencia (6), Lindelof (7), Rojo (6), Smalling (6), Young (8), Pogba (6), Matic (5), Lingard (7), Lukaku (5), Martial (6)
Subs: Herrera (5), Rashford (5), Ibrahimovic (NA)
Man of the match: Ashley Young
