First half goals help Man Utd overcome Brentford | OneFootball

Manchester United had to endure a nervy final period of the game but held on to underline their Champions League credentials with a 2-1 win at home to Brentford.

It was the home side who started much the better and missed a golden opportunity inside the first two minutes when Kobbie Mainoo did brilliantly to set up Amad Diallo but the out-of-form forward's effort was cleared off the line by Sepp van den Berg when he really should have smashed the ball into the net.

United still found a goal in the 11th minute though and it was a familiar story with a corner delivery that Harry Magurie looped back across the face of goal for Casemiro to head home as he continues to have an impressive final season with the club.

That goal seemed to wake Brentford up with Michael Kayode forcing Senne Lammens into a fine save soon after.

Bees main man Igor Thiago has had a brilliant campaign but he didn't have his best of games at Old Trafford. He had a golden opportunity to level the score when he was through on goal before delaying to avoid Diogo Dalot's attempted block but then slipping at the vital moment.

Just a few minutes later Thiago was again through on goal with Ayden Heaven this time coming to the rescue.

United were looking to pounce on the break and after Amad put the ball in the net from an offside position, a second goal came just before the break.

It wasn't Amad's best game but he set the whole move flowing with a vital interception that suddenly saw United three-on-two. It looked like Bruno Fernandes had chosen the wrong option when he opted to find Benjamin Sesko instead of Bryan Mbeumo but the Slovenian did well to bypass his defender before rifling past Caoimhin Kelleher.

Like in the first half, Brentford took a while to get going in the second half with Michael Carrick opting for more defensive stability by bringing Noussair Mazraoui on for Amad at the break.

Dango Ouattara almost made it 2-1 in the 71st minute when he latched onto the end of a corner but saw his effort bounce off the post.

Brentford just weren't taking their chances and it required a moment of magic to reduce the deficit. Mathias Jensen had time and space at the edge of the box to finish with style as effort found the net off the inside of the post in the 87th minute.

However, United were able to hold on to stay three points ahead of fourth-placed Liverpool who they host next, while Brentford remain ninth before West Ham United visit this weekend.

Incidents: The story of the match

Manchester United Official Line-ups:

Senne Lammens, Diogo Dalot, Ayden Heaven, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo, Amad Diallo, Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko

Brentford Official Line-ups:

Caoimhin Kelleher, Michael Kayode, Nathan Collins, Sepp van den Berg, Mikkel Damsgaard, Yehor Yarmoliuk, Mathias Jensen, Kevin Schade, Dango Ouattara, Igor Thiago, Keane Lewis-Potter

1':

The match begins

Manchester United lead 1-0 against Brentford. Casemiro scores with a header from the right side of the six-yard box into the top right corner, assisted by Harry Maguire's headed pass after a corner.

11':

GOAL Manchester United: Casemiro (Manchester United) scores!

Casemiro scores goal number 9 in the competition (32 matches) Casemiro scores goal number 27 for his team (159 matches)

Manchester United lead Brentford 2-0. Benjamin Sesko scores for Manchester United with a right-footed shot from the center of the box after a fast break.

43':

GOAL Manchester United: Benjamin Sesko (Manchester United) scores!

Benjamin Sesko scores goal number 10 in the competition (29 matches) Benjamin Sesko scores goal number 12 for his team (32 matches)

Mathias Jensen scores for Brentford with a right-footed shot from outside the box after a corner. The match stands at Manchester United 2, Brentford 1.

87':

GOAL Brentford: Mathias Jensen (Brentford) scores!

Mathias Jensen scores goal number 3 in the competition (32 matches)

998':

The referee whistles for the end of the match