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#Leeds #beats #Manchester #United #Premier #League #Trafford #years #Okafor #nets #brace">Leeds beats Manchester United in Premier League at Old Trafford after 45 years; Okafor nets brace Leeds United’s Noah Okafor scored twice as his side grabbed a morale-boosting 2-1 Premier League away win over bitter rival Manchester United, which had Lisandro Martinez sent off in the 56th minute for pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s hair.
Manchester United remains third in the table on 55 points, ahead of Aston Villa on goal difference, while 15th-placed Leeds puts some more daylight between it and the teams battling relegation by moving up to 36 points, six ahead of Tottenham Hotspur to 18th.
The home side was returning to action after a long period of inactivity due to the recent international break, but instead of looking fresh and rested, it looked rusty as Leeds pressed it hard, repeatedly winning the ball high up the pitch en route to a well-deserved win.
Leeds striker Calvert-Lewin had an early chance only to see his close-range first-time shot hit the home side’s ‘keeper Senne Lammens, and Manchester United failed to heed that warning as the visiting side took the lead shortly afterwards, Okafor side-footing home from a cross.
Okafor added a second in the 29th minute as United spurned a number of chances to clear the ball before the midfielder thumped a shot from just outside the box that deflected off Leny Yoro and into the net.
Only a brilliant last-ditch challenge from Martinez prevented the home side from going into the break three goals down as Leeds midfielder Ao Tanaka snapped up yet another loose pass and bore down on goal, but the Argentine defender swooped in to prevent the ball from crossing the line.
Martinez was then shown a straight red card early in the second half after he was adjudged to have pulled Calvert-Lewin’s hair in a VAR review.
Despite going down to 10 men, Casemiro threw his side a lifeline by pulling a goal back in the 69th minute as Bruno Fernandes sent a deep cross to the back post, and the Brazilian headed it back across the goal to score.
Casemiro went close again in the 85th minute but this time his effort cleared off the line, and a follow-up from Manuel Ugarte was also blocked as the Leeds rearguard held firm to secure full points.
It was the first time in 45 years that the Red Devils had finished second-best in the Roses derby at Old Trafford in the Premier League.
Published on Apr 14, 2026
Leeds United’s Noah Okafor scored twice as his side grabbed a morale-boosting 2-1 Premier League…
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#Manchester #United #Leeds #Michael #Carrick #labels #Martinez #red #card #worst #decision">Manchester United vs Leeds — Michael Carrick labels Martinez red card as ‘worst decision’ ever
Manchester United interim manager Michael Carrick blasted referee Paul Tierney for sending off Lisandro Martinez in Monday’s 1-2 defeat against Leeds.
Martinez was dismissed in the second-half at Old Trafford after the United defender pulled the hair of Leeds striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Tierney showed the Argentine a red card after VAR officials told him to consult the pitch-side monitor.
United was trailing to Noah Okafor’s first-half double when Martinez was dismissed.
And although Casemiro got one back for Carrick’s side, it was unable to avoid the second defeat of his 11-match reign.
“I thought the boys, the way they went about it, they stayed positive and fought to get something out of it after another shocking decision to send off Lisandro,” Carrick said.
“Two games in a row, we’ve had decisions like that go against us but this one was one of the worst I’ve seen.”
Claiming Calvert-Lewin’s initial contact with Martinez had played a role in the centre-back’s reaction, Carrick said: “You can throw your arm in Martinez’s face and then as he’s off balance because of that, he’s half grappling, he half touches the back of his hair which pulls the bobble to come out.
“I don’t even know what it looks like. It’s not a pull, it’s not a tug, it’s not aggressive. He touches it and he gets sent off.
“Worst of all, he gets sent to overturn it, a clear and obvious error. Shocking.”
Martinez could face a three-match ban and, asked if United would appeal, Carrick said, “I am going to have to discuss it but I think it is a bad decision.”
Carrick was also frustrated that Calvert-Lewin got away with a strong challenge on United defender Leny Yoro in the build-up to Okafor’s opener.
“We obviously conceded when Leny Yoro gets a forearm smash in the back of the head and they score the first goal,” he said. “They didn’t decide to overturn that decision. That was a big moment in the game.”
United remains third in the Premier League, seven points ahead of sixth-placed Chelsea in the race to qualify for the Champions League via a top-five finish.
With one win in its last four games, United travels to Chelsea on Saturday for a crucial clash in a battle for Champions League places.
“This is one game. We’ll certainly look at it and look to improve. We’ve got another big game, an important game next week and a big end to the season,” Carrick said.
“We’re in a really good position. Tonight’s disappointing, we didn’t want to lose and we didn’t want the referee’s decisions to be so bad against us but we move on.
“We’ve got a big end to the season and there’s a lot to be positive about.”
Published on Apr 14, 2026
Manchester United interim manager Michael Carrick blasted referee Paul Tierney for sending off Lisandro Martinez in Monday’s 1-2 defeat against Leeds.
Martinez was dismissed in the second-half at Old Trafford after the United defender pulled the hair of Leeds striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Tierney showed the Argentine a red card after VAR officials told him to consult the pitch-side monitor.
United was trailing to Noah Okafor’s first-half double when Martinez was dismissed.
And although Casemiro got one back for Carrick’s side, it was unable to avoid the second defeat of his 11-match reign.
“I thought the boys, the way they went about it, they stayed positive and fought to get something out of it after another shocking decision to send off Lisandro,” Carrick said.
“Two games in a row, we’ve had decisions like that go against us but this one was one of the worst I’ve seen.”
Claiming Calvert-Lewin’s initial contact with Martinez had played a role in the centre-back’s reaction, Carrick said: “You can throw your arm in Martinez’s face and then as he’s off balance because of that, he’s half grappling, he half touches the back of his hair which pulls the bobble to come out.
“I don’t even know what it looks like. It’s not a pull, it’s not a tug, it’s not aggressive. He touches it and he gets sent off.
“Worst of all, he gets sent to overturn it, a clear and obvious error. Shocking.”
Martinez could face a three-match ban and, asked if United would appeal, Carrick said, “I am going to have to discuss it but I think it is a bad decision.”
Carrick was also frustrated that Calvert-Lewin got away with a strong challenge on United defender Leny Yoro in the build-up to Okafor’s opener.
“We obviously conceded when Leny Yoro gets a forearm smash in the back of the head and they score the first goal,” he said. “They didn’t decide to overturn that decision. That was a big moment in the game.”
United remains third in the Premier League, seven points ahead of sixth-placed Chelsea in the race to qualify for the Champions League via a top-five finish.
With one win in its last four games, United travels to Chelsea on Saturday for a crucial clash in a battle for Champions League places.
“This is one game. We’ll certainly look at it and look to improve. We’ve got another big game, an important game next week and a big end to the season,” Carrick said.
“We’re in a really good position. Tonight’s disappointing, we didn’t want to lose and we didn’t want the referee’s decisions to be so bad against us but we move on.
“We’ve got a big end to the season and there’s a lot to be positive about.”
Published on Apr 14, 2026
Manchester United interim manager Michael Carrick blasted referee Paul Tierney for sending off Lisandro Martinez…