Leeds United’s Noah Okafor scored twice as his side took a morale-boosting 2-1 Premier League away win over bitter rivals Manchester United, with Lisandro Martinez sent off in the 56th minute for pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s hair.
Manchester United remain third in the table with 55 points, ahead of Aston Villa on goal difference, while 15th-placed Leeds put some more daylight between them and the relegation-battling teams by moving to 36 points, six ahead of Tottenham Hotspur in 18th.
The home side returned to action after a long period of inactivity due to the recent international break, but instead of looking fresh and rested, they looked rusty as Leeds pressed hard and repeatedly won the ball high up the pitch on their way to a well-deserved win.
Leeds striker Calvert-Lewin had an early opportunity to see his first-time shot from close range 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 moving wide 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 fired a shot from just outside the penalty area that found the net via Leny Yoro.
Only a brilliant last-ditch challenge from Martinez prevented the home side going into half-time three goals behind, as Leeds midfielder Ao Tanaka again collected a loose pass and fired home, but the Argentine defender dived in to prevent the ball from going over the line.
Martinez was then shown a straight red card early in the second half after a VAR review found he had pulled Calvert-Lewin’s hair.
Despite being down to ten men, Casemiro threw his side a lifeline by pulling a goal back in the 69th minute when Bruno Fernandes sent a deep cross to the back post and the Brazilian headed the ball back across goal to score.
Casemiro went close again in the 85th minute, but this time his effort cleared the line and Manuel Ugarte’s follow-up was also blocked as the Leeds backline held firm to secure full points.
It was the first time in 45 years that the Red Devils had finished second in the Roses derby at Old Trafford in the Premier League.
Published on April 14, 2026
