Noah Okafor fired Leeds United to a long-awaited 2-1 win over 10-man Manchester United at Old Trafford, ending the Yorkshire club’s 45-year wait for a league victory at the Theatre of Dreams and boosting their Premier League survival hopes in dramatic fashion . The Swiss forward struck twice inside the opening 29 minutes, punishing United’s sloppy defending as the visitors raced into a commanding lead before Lisandro Martinez was sent off for pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s hair after the interval . Casemiro pulled one back for the hosts with a powerful header in the 69th minute, but Leeds held firm in a frantic finale to secure their first top-flight win against United since 2002 and their first league victory at Old Trafford since 1981 .
Leeds made a dream start, taking the lead inside five minutes when Jayden Bogle whipped a cross towards Calvert-Lewin, and Okafor pounced on a defensive mix-up to slot home from 10 yards . The visitors doubled their advantage in the 29th minute after United made a hash of clearing the ball twice in quick succession, with Okafor’s strike from the edge of the box taking a heavy deflection off Leny Yoro as it flashed past goalkeeper Senne Lammens . Only a brilliant last-ditch tackle from Martinez prevented Leeds from going into the break three goals up when Ao Tanaka rounded Lammens and bore down on goal, but the Argentine defender swooped in to keep the deficit at two .
United’s nightmare evening continued early in the second half when Martinez was shown a straight red card after a VAR review for pulling Calvert-Lewin’s ponytail, an act referee Paul Tierney deemed worthy of dismissal even though contact appeared minimal . Despite their numerical disadvantage, the hosts responded positively and reduced the deficit in the 69th minute when Bruno Fernandes sent a deep cross to the back post, and Casemiro rose highest to head back across goal and into the net . Fernandes’ assist was his 17th of the Premier League season, closing the gap on the single-season record of 20 held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne .
