Lisandro Martinez sent off for hair pull as Leeds achieve 45-year first with shock win at Man United in major survival boost
Leeds United have won a league match at Old Trafford for the first time in 45 years, beating Manchester United 2-1 on Monday night.
The result gives Daniel Farke’s side a huge boost in their survival bid with Leeds now six points clear of the relegation zone.
A first half brace from Noah Okafor proved to be enough to earn a 2-1 win over bitter rivals Manchester United.
The Swiss winger broke the deadlock after just five minutes to give the visitors the ideal start.
Leeds then doubled their lead moments before the half hour mark as Okafor grabbed his second with a deflected strike.
His volley found the bottom corner thanks to a deflection off the unfortunate Leny Yoro.
Seeing red
A frustrating night went from bad to worse for the Red Devils after the interval, though.
Lisandro Martinez was sent off following a VAR review in the 56th minute.
It followed a coming together with Dominic Calvert-Lewin as the pair tussled for the ball.
Replays showed Martinez had pulled the Leeds striker’s hair, with referee Paul Tierney brandishing a red card after heading to the pitch-side monitor.
The Argentine defender will now miss United’s next three matches through suspension at a crucial time of the season.
His ban rules him out of Saturday’s trip to face Chelsea as well as the home matches against Brentford and Liverpool.
Explaining the decision to send Martinez off, referee Paul Tierney said on the pitch: “After review, Manchester United six is guilty of pulling his hair – violent conduct. Final decision is red card.”
However, Man United legend Steve Bruce insists the decision was harsh, as he said live on commentary: “I’m still not convinced it’s intentional, only he knows.
“There’s no way you can consider that violent conduct. What if Calvert-Lewin didn’t have a ponytail?”
Despite being reduced to ten men, United pulled a goal back through Casemiro to set up a grandstand finish.
The midfielder was on hand at the back post to head home Bruno Fernandes’ cross.
However, Michael Carrick’s side were unable to find an equaliser as they slipped to their first home defeat since he returned to the club.
Leeds end winless Old Trafford run
It is an historic result for Leeds, though, as they ended their barren run at Old Trafford in the league.
The Whites had not beaten United away in the league since February 1981. On that occasion, Brian Flynn scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory for Leeds.
Monday’s result sees the West Yorkshire side move six points clear of 18th-placed Tottenham Hotspur with six matches remaining this season.
Farke will be hoping his players can extend that gap further at home to bottom club Wolves on Saturday afternoon.
As for the Red Devils, they remain in third place, level on points with Aston Villa.
Following Chelsea’s home defeat to Manchester City on Sunday, United hold a seven-point lead over the side in sixth.
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