Noah Okafor at the double as Leeds edge Manchester United

Noah Okafor at the double as Leeds edge Manchester United

Manchester United suffered a 2-1 defeat to Leeds United in the Premier League at Old Trafford on Monday.

The visitors carved out the first opportunity within three minutes, as Dominic Calvert-Lewin was picked out by Gabriel Gudmundsson, but Senne Lammens produced a superb save to keep him out.

However, two minutes later, Lammens couldn’t prevent Noah Okafor from giving the Whites the lead as he volleyed Leny Yoro’s clearance home.

At the other end, Amad Diallo had the hosts’ first effort as he looked to find the bottom corner, but his curling effort was saved by Karl Darlow.

Moments later, Yoro went close to restoring parity for United after he met Bruno Fernandes’ corner but his header flew wide.

Leeds threatened again and almost doubled their advantage after Jaka Bijol met Ao Tanaka’s corner, but he headed just wide.

In the 29th minute, Okafor doubled his tally and the visitors’ lead after his deflected volley nestled into the net.

Just past the half-hour mark, Matheus Cunha tried his luck from distance, but his effort sailed well over the bar before Calvert-Lewin sent his header wide at the other end.

On the stroke of half-time, the Whites nearly extended their lead to three when Lammens miscued his pass to Tanaka, who rounded him to slot home, but Lisandro Martinez made a crucial block to deny the Japanese before Lammens kept out Pascal Struijk’s header from eight yards out.

Three minutes after the restart, Benjamin Sesko almost halved the deficit, but he was denied by Darlow.

In the 56th minute, Martinez was sent off for violent conduct, a hair pull on Calvert-Lewin – and United were reduced to 10 men.

Moments later, Gudmundsson drilled his effort wide of the far post, before Cunha forced Darlow into a smart save at the other end.

Casemiro pulled one back for the Red Devils in the 69th minute after he headed home Fernandes’ cross at the back post.

Minutes later, Cunha went close to drawing the hosts level, but his effort was comfortably saved by Darlow.

Darlow was called into action again in the 85th minute as he kept out Sesko’s header.

United pressured late on but couldn’t get the equaliser, and Leeds secured the victory to move six points clear of the relegation zone while the Red Devils remain in third place in the Premier League standings.