Substitute Jadon Sancho scored on his Premier League return after nearly four months out as Manchester United came from behind to draw 2-2 with managerless Leeds in an English Premier League (EPL) thriller at Old Trafford on Wednesday, February 8, 2023.
Sancho, who came on with United 2-0 down, equalised (70) after linking up with Luke Shaw down the left having seen Marcus Rashford head the hosts level (62) with his 20th goal in all competitions this season.
Leeds, who sacked head coach Jesse Marsch on Monday, opened the scoring after just 55 seconds through Wilfried Gnonto’s superb low drilled effort from the edge of the area and struck early in the second as Raphael Varane turned in substitute Crysencio Summerville’s low cross (48).
United got the breakthrough with Sancho and Shaw combining down the left as the returning forward cut in to score his first goal since September – on his first league appearance since October, when he was given a break from first-team football by manager Ten Hag having experienced a sharp drop-off in form.
The result keeps Man United in third place but just three points above fourth-placed Newcastle who have a game in hand. Leeds’ potentially vital point lifts them above West Ham and into 16th place on goal difference, a point above the relegation zone.
United miss the chance to go level on points with second-placed City, while Leeds push themselves a point clear of the relegation zone but are now winless in eight league games. The teams play again on Sunday at Elland Road
Man United had beaten their Roses rivals Leeds by a scoreline of 11-3 in their previous two clashes at Old Trafford, and the visitors were on a seven-game Premier League winless streak that led to manager Marsch being sacked this week.
Leeds were led by a trio of interim coaches at Old Trafford – Michael Skubala, Chris Armas and Paco Gallardo – who only had one full day to work with the squad following Marsch’s sacking.
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