Cunha Secures Draw for Man Utd Against Rival Leeds
Matheus Cunha prevented Manchester United from suffering an uncommon loss to their intense rivals Leeds with his equalising goal that ensured a 1-1 stalemate at Elland Road on Sunday.
Rubem Amorims team were behind after Brenden Aaronsons effort in the second half until Cunha levelled the score shortly afterwards.
This heated contest between two opposing supporter groups saw Leeds extend their winless streak against United to eight encounters since their FA Cup victory at Old Trafford back in 2010.
Uniteds inability to claim all three points meant they missed an opportunity to climb into the Premier Leagues top four positions.
Amorims squad remain in fifth spot following just one victory in their previous five league outings.
Coming after a lacklustre 1-1 result versus struggling Wolves earlier in the week, this outcome proved equally disappointing for United.
Daniel Farkes outfit pulled further ahead of the drop zone by eight points while stretching their strong unbeaten sequence to seven games.
Deprived of their injured skipper Bruno Fernandes, Amorim deployed United in his favoured 3-4-2-1 formation having adjusted his criticised approach for the recent success against Newcastle before reverting against Wolves.
Amorims frequent adjustments appear particularly notable given his recent remarks about beginning to understand that Uniteds sporting directors could supply suitable players for his setup.
Under chilly conditions in Yorkshire, Leeds launched into several hefty challenges aiming to grab early dominance.
Noise and Intensity
Leeds had not defeated United at Elland Road since 2002 and the pressing need to break that sequence showed no evident fatigue from having less recovery time than their opponents after the prior fixture.
Even with their efforts to unsettle United, it was the away side who gained command amid the noisy atmosphere in the stands.
Benjamin Sesko missed a chance to give United the lead from Casemiros precise delivery but delayed too much, letting Pascal Struijk execute a crucial clearance.
Diogo Dalot blazed over the crossbar from a promising position within the Leeds penalty area.
Leeds forward Dominic Calvert Lewin nearly opened the scoring with a header that brushed the far upright after Anton Stachs delivery.
Leny Yoro was thwarted by Lucas Perris excellent stop following the United players downward header from Casemiros lofted ball into the six yard box.
United goalkeeper Senne Lammens needed to react quickly to block Gabriel Gudmundssons angled shot towards the near corner post break.
However, young centre back Ayden Heavens inexperience shone through when Leeds took the lead on 62 minutes.
Heaven proved overly relaxed as Leeds lofted a ball beyond the defender, allowing Aaronson to capitalise by racing into the box and slotting a composed shot beyond Lammens.
Amorim countered by introducing Joshua Zirkzee, a substitution that paid off as the forward contributed key to Uniteds leveller three minutes later.
Zirkzee delivered an ideal through ball to Cunha, who extended to nudge the ball past Perri from close range.
This marked Cunha's third strike across his most recent five appearances as he overcomes an underwhelming debut period at United following his transfer from Wolves in the summer.
Noah Okafor's acrobatic effort was tipped aside by Lammens while the struggling Sesko squandered an opportunity soon after.
Zirkzees pull back positioned the Slovenian merely eight yards out yet he fired just past the target.
Cunhas bending shot grazed the upright towards the end, leaving United frustrated.