Brentford 1-1 Manchester United: Both sides score in stoppage time in thrilling finish
Kristoffer Ajer scored in the ninth minute of injury time as Brentford snatched a dramatic draw against Manchester United in an incredible finish at the Gtech Community Stadium.
The equaliser came three minutes after Mason Mount thought he had snatched the win for the visitors with his first United goal.
But they could not hold on for victory and this draw damages the Red Devils’ slim hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
Ivan Toney, who scored his first England goal in the 2-2 draw with Belgium on Tuesday, was involved in the build-up to the equaliser, with his pull-back converted by Ajer as the Bees secured a deserved point after hitting the woodwork four times.
Toney shot against the inside of the post before Mathias Jorgensen’s free header clipped the top of the crossbar before the break.
Brentford continued to dominate and Yoane Wissa became the third Bees player to hit the goal frame, with his powerful volley from inside the penalty area bouncing off the upright just before the hour mark.
Bryan Mbeumo also produced a fierce second-half attempt that rebounded off the crossbar as Brentford pushed for a much-needed victory in their fight to stay in the top flight.
Toney thought he had scored the winner, volleying into the net from Mbeumo’s cross in the 72nd minute, only for the effort to be disallowed for offside.
Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken then made an excellent one-handed save to deny Rasmus Hojlund but was beaten by substitute Mount before Ajer’s late heroics.
In previous seasons a top-four finish would be enough to qualify for the Champions League, but this year – depending on how English teams perform in European competition – fifth place may also earn a place in the top continental competition.
However, FA Cup semi-finalists United are sixth in the table, 11 points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa and eight adrift of Tottenham in fifth, although Erik ten Hag’s side have a game in hand on Villa.
More to follow.
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Brentford
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Squad number1Player nameFlekken
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Squad number13Player nameM Jorgensen
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Squad number20Player nameAjer
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Squad number22Player nameCollins
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Squad number30Player nameRoerslev
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Squad number8Player nameJensen
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Squad number27Player nameJanelt
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Squad number33Player nameYarmoliuk
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Squad number23Player nameLewis-Potter
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Squad number17Player nameToney
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Squad number11Player nameWissa
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Squad number7Player nameMaupay
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Squad number14Player nameGhoddos
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Squad number19Player nameMbeumo
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Squad number24Player nameDamsgaard
Line-ups
Brentford
Formation 3-5-2
- 1Flekken
- 13M JorgensenBooked at 83mins
- 20Ajer
- 22Collins
- 30RoerslevSubstituted forMaupayat 87′minutesBooked at 90mins
- 8Jensen
- 27Janelt
- 33YarmoliukSubstituted forDamsgaardat 71′minutes
- 23Lewis-PotterSubstituted forGhoddosat 87′minutes
- 17Toney
- 11WissaBooked at 45minsSubstituted forMbeumoat 71′minutes
Substitutes
- 7Maupay
- 14Ghoddos
- 15Onyeka
- 19Mbeumo
- 21Strakosha
- 24Damsgaard
- 26Baptiste
- 32Trevitt
- 36Kim
Man Utd
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 24Onana
- 20Dalot
- 2LindelöfSubstituted forLi Martínezat 69′minutes
- 19VaraneSubstituted forMaguireat 45′minutes
- 29Wan-BissakaBooked at 39mins
- 39McTominayBooked at 90mins
- 37MainooSubstituted forCasemiroat 80′minutes
- 17GarnachoSubstituted forAntonyat 59′minutes
- 8Bruno Fernandes
- 10RashfordSubstituted forMountat 80′minutes
- 11Højlund
Substitutes
- 4S Amrabat
- 5Maguire
- 6Li Martínez
- 7Mount
- 14Eriksen
- 18Casemiro
- 21Antony
- 22Heaton
- 53Kambwala
- Referee:
- Simon Hooper
- Attendance:
- 17,138
Live Text
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Match ends, Brentford 1, Manchester United 1.
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Second Half ends, Brentford 1, Manchester United 1.
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Scott McTominay (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card.
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Neal Maupay (Brentford) is shown the yellow card.
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Foul by Lisandro Martínez (Manchester United).
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Vitaly Janelt (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Zanka.
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Attempt blocked. Harry Maguire (Manchester United) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Bruno Fernandes with a cross.
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Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Zanka.
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Goal! Brentford 1, Manchester United 1. Kristoffer Ajer (Brentford) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ivan Toney.
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Goal! Brentford 0, Manchester United 1. Mason Mount (Manchester United) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Casemiro.
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Foul by Scott McTominay (Manchester United).
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Saman Ghoddos (Brentford) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Mason Mount (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Vitaly Janelt (Brentford).
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Attempt blocked. Vitaly Janelt (Brentford) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match because of an injury Diogo Dalot (Manchester United).
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Diogo Dalot (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Neal Maupay (Brentford).
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