Cunha rescues 1-1 draw for Man United at Leeds’ Elland Road

By : AFP

Date: 4 January 2026 3:56pm WAT

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Matheus Cunha scores for Manchester United

Matheus Cunha scores for Manchester United

Matheus Cunha kept Manchester United’s hopes of a top-four finish alive as his late equaliser secured a 1-1 draw against fierce rivals Leeds United at Elland Road on Sunday.

United fell behind in the 62nd minute when Brenden Aaronson capitalised on a lapse by teenage defender Ayden Heaven, calmly sweeping a long ball past United goalkeeper Senne Lammens. The goal continued Leeds’ trend of frustrating the Red Devils, extending their unbeaten streak against Manchester United at Elland Road to 24 years. The visitors had earlier threatened to take control, with Benjamin Sesko and Diogo Dalot both spurning good chances.

Leeds, despite having only 48 hours to recover from their previous fixture, matched United’s intensity with a series of hard tackles and early pressure. Dominic Calvert-Lewin came close to opening the scoring before Lammens produced a superb save to deny Leny Yoro. United manager Rubem Amorim, without injured captain Bruno Fernandes, fielded his preferred 3-4-2-1 formation, a shift from his recently tinkered setup.

He later turned to the bench for inspiration, introducing Joshua Zirkzee in the 65th minute. The move proved decisive. Zirkzee’s deft pass found Cunha, who poked the ball past Leeds keeper Lucas Perri from 12 yards to restore parity. Cunha, who joined United from Wolves over the summer, has now scored three goals in his last five appearances, emerging from a slow start to life in Manchester.

“It’s a relief to contribute to the team. We knew it wouldn’t be easy at Elland Road,” Cunha said after the match. The result leaves United frustrated yet still in contention for a top-four finish, while Leeds, under Daniel Farke, climbed eight points clear of the relegation zone and extended their unbeaten league run to seven matches. Amorim lamented his team’s missed opportunities: “We created chances but didn’t take them. It’s disappointing, but we’ll build on the positives.”

Despite the shared spoils, the match highlighted ongoing issues for United, including defensive fragility and the need for clinical finishing. Cunha’s intervention, however, offered a timely boost, showcasing his growing influence in a squad that has struggled for consistency this season. The Premier League will next see United host Aston Villa, while Leeds travel to face Everton, as both sides aim to consolidate their respective ambitions in the coming weeks.

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