Manchester United’s final match before Christmas ended in disappointment as Bournemouth secured a 3-0 victory at Old Trafford. Dean Huijsen’s first-half header was followed by quickfire second-half goals from Justin Kluivert and Antoine Semenyo, condemning United to their second consecutive defeat.
United began brightly, with Amad testing Bournemouth goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga early on. Bruno Fernandes came close on multiple occasions, his best effort being a swerving strike saved by Arrizabalaga.
Despite Manchester United’s dominance, Bournemouth took the lead in the 29th minute. Teenager Dean Huijsen glanced home Ryan Christie’s free-kick, leaving United trailing at halftime despite creating several chances.
Second Half: Bournemouth Seals the Win
Manager Ruben Amorim made changes at the interval, introducing Leny Yoro and later Rasmus Hojlund and Alejandro Garnacho. However, Bournemouth doubled their lead when Justin Kluivert converted a penalty after Noussair Mazraoui’s foul.
Just minutes later, Antoine Semenyo added a third, finishing Dango Ouattara’s cutback with precision.
United’s substitutes, Hojlund and Garnacho, created late opportunities, but Arrizabalaga’s solid performance and missed chances left the Reds frustrated.
This defeat leaves Manchester United searching for solutions as they prepare for their Boxing Day clash against Wolves at Molineux and their final 2024 fixture against Newcastle United.
For Bournemouth, the victory marks an impressive run of form under Andoni Iraola, signaling their intent to climb higher in the Premier League table.
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