Manchester United staged a second-half turnaround as goals from Anthony Elanga, Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford earned a 3-1 win at Brentford to boost the team's top-four ambitions in the Premier League on Wednesday.
It was another less-than-convincing display from United, though, with Cristiano Ronaldo ostensibly far from impressed at being substituted with 20 minutes left.
Elanga, a 19-year-old winger starting only his fourth Premier League match, broke the deadlock in the 55th minute after Brentford had wasted a host of chances to take the lead in the first half.
Manchester United's Mason Greenwood, right, celebrates with Bruno Fernandes after scoring his side's second goal during an English Premier League soccer match between Brentford and Manchester United at the Brentford Community Stadium in London, Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022. (AP PhotoMatt Dunham)
Greenwood then notched his first Premier League goal since October, tapping in from Bruno Fernandes' pass, to make it 2-0 in the 62nd and Rashford climbed off the bench to add the third in the 77th for a first league win of 2022.
It was a tough blow for Brentford, which had dominated the first league meeting between these sides since 1946 but only had Ivan Toney’s late consolation to show for it.
United stayed in seventh place, but is only two points behind fourth-place West Ham in the race for Champions League qualification.
Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo points during an English Premier League soccer match between Brentford and Manchester United at the Brentford Community Stadium in London, Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022. (AP PhotoMatt Dunham)
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Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo shakes hands with Manchester United's interim manager Ralf Rangnick after being substituted during an English Premier League soccer match between Brentford and Manchester United at the Brentford Community Stadium in London, Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022. (AP PhotoMatt Dunham)
Manchester United's interim manager Ralf Rangnick applauds at the end of an English Premier League soccer match between Brentford and Manchester United at the Brentford Community Stadium in London, Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022. (AP PhotoMatt Dunham)