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HomeFootballHojlund Breaks Long Goal Drought as Manchester United Crush Leicester 3-0

Hojlund Breaks Long Goal Drought as Manchester United Crush Leicester 3-0

Manchester United secured a dominant 3-0 victory over Leicester City in the Premier League, with Rasmus Hojlund scoring his first goal of 2025, Alejandro Garnacho finding the net, and Bruno Fernandes delivering yet another influential performance. The win lifted United to 13th in the league standings, while Leicester’s struggles deepened under Ruud van Nistelrooy, who watched his side suffer a record seventh consecutive top-flight home defeat without scoring.

Slow Start Before United Take Control

The game began with little attacking action, though Leicester’s Jamie Vardy nearly gave his side an early lead when he forced a save from Andre Onana. However, that moment aside, the Foxes struggled to impose themselves on the match.

Manchester United slowly grew into the game, with Christian Eriksen coming closest to breaking the deadlock when his well-struck shot hit the far post. Moments later, Leicester threatened on the counterattack, but Patson Daka was denied a golden opportunity by an outstanding recovery tackle from 18-year-old Ayden Heaven, who was making his full Premier League debut.

Despite Leicester’s brief moments of promise, it was United who eventually found the breakthrough in the 28th minute. Fernandes, once again proving his importance to Ruben Amorim’s side, delivered a precise pass to Hojlund. The Danish forward, who had been searching for his first goal of the year, confidently carried the ball forward and slotted it past Mads Hermansen with his weaker foot to give United a deserved lead.

Rasmus Hojlund broke his goalless streak
Rasmus Hojlund broke his goalless streak-Credit: Getty

Heaven’s Injury and Garnacho’s Persistence Pay Off

United continued to control the match heading into the break, but Leicester occasionally reminded the visitors of their attacking capabilities. Wilfred Ndidi looked set to create an opportunity before Manuel Ugarte stepped in with a crucial interception, while Daka saw another chance blocked by the impressive Heaven.

Unfortunately for the young defender, his memorable Premier League debut ended in disappointment early in the second half when he was forced off on a stretcher. With no center-backs available on the bench, Amorim turned to midfielder Toby Collyer to fill in at the back.

Ayden Heaven was stretchered off ( Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Ayden Heaven was stretchered off ( Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Despite the enforced change, United remained dominant and thought they had doubled their lead when Garnacho found the back of the net. However, VAR ruled the goal out for offside. The Argentine wouldn’t be denied for long, though. Just ten minutes later, he capitalized on a defensive lapse from Leicester, catching Hermansen off guard with a sharp snapshot to make it 2-0. It was Garnacho’s first goal since November, and his celebration reflected his relief.

Alejandro Garnacho made it 2-0 for Manchester United-Credit: Reuters
Alejandro Garnacho made it 2-0 for Manchester United-Credit: Reuters

Fernandes Caps Off a Perfect Night for United

With three points all but secured, Fernandes ensured United ended the match in style. The Portuguese playmaker, who had already assisted Hojlund’s goal, capped off a superb individual performance by scoring United’s third goal from the edge of the box. That marked his eighth goal involvement against Leicester this season—a remarkable statistic that underlines his dominance over the struggling Foxes.

Bruno Fernandes fired in a late third for the visitorsCredit: PA

Leicester’s misery was compounded by the fact that this marked their fourth defeat to Manchester United this season—a rare and unwanted record. It was only the second time in the club’s history that they had lost to the same opponent four times in a single campaign.

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Leicester’s Relegation Woes Continue as United Gain Momentum

Van Nistelrooy’s Leicester side now finds itself nine points from safety in 19th place after suffering a 13th defeat in their last 14 Premier League matches. The team’s inability to score at home continues to be a major concern, and with fixtures running out, their chances of survival look increasingly slim.

For Manchester United, this result adds to the growing optimism following their recent Europa League progression. Amorim’s side still has plenty of work to do to climb the table, but with Hojlund finally finding his scoring touch and Fernandes continuing to shine, there are signs that United may be turning a corner in their difficult season.

What’s Next for Manchester United?

United will look to build on this performance as they shift their focus back to European competition and the Premier League run-in. With a number of key players regaining form, Amorim will be hoping to string together a series of positive results to push the club back into contention for European qualification next season.

For Leicester, the road ahead looks daunting. They must quickly find solutions to their attacking struggles and defensive frailties if they are to have any hope of staging a late-season escape from relegation.

Peter Amollo
Peter Amollohttp://jambobet.co.ke
Freelance Sports Journalist at JamboBet
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