Manchester United Win and Stay in the Champions League Spots
Michael Carrick extends his strong Premier League run, recording five wins in his first six matches.
For the second week in a row, Benjamin Sesko provided the late-game magic. After saving a point against West Ham, the Slovenian striker went one better at the City Ground, deciding a brutal, physical affair with a clinical finish.
In a match defined by friction and "mud" rather than fluid football, Sesko is channeling the spirit of the club's legendary "supersubs." Since Michael Carrick took the reins, United remains undefeated, proving that this squad has finally rediscovered its backbone.
A Dogfight at Goodison: All Grit, No Glory
The match started with a flurry of chaos. Senne Lammens had an early scare with a tricky rebound, while at the other end, Everton’s James Tarkowski had to clear an Amad Diallo effort off the line. But after that initial burst, the game turned into a tactical chess match played with sledgehammers.
The midfield became a battlefield where Casemiro and Ugarte had to fight for every inch. Diogo Dalot and Bryan Mbeumo both tried their luck from distance, but neither could break the stalemate. Before the break, Bruno Fernandes sent a rocket just over the bar, leaving the teams level in a half characterized by tactical discipline and physical exhaustion.
The Decisive Counter: Cunha, Mbeumo, and Sesko
The second half saw the intensity ramp up even further. As Everton pushed forward in front of their home crowd, they left the one thing this United side loves to exploit: space.
The breakthrough was a masterclass in transition:
- Matheus Cunha spotted the opening from his own half and unleashed a pinpoint long ball across the pitch.
- Bryan Mbeumo controlled it with ease and squared the ball into the path of the newly introduced Sesko.
- The Finish: With ice in his veins, Sesko beat Jordan Pickford to make it 0-1.
Everton threw everything they had at United in the closing stages, but Lammens remained calm under pressure. Sesko nearly added a second in another 1-v-1, but Pickford won that specific duel. In the end, it didn't matter—the job was done.
The Top 4 Reality
This wasn't a "Joga Bonito" performance, but it was a display of pure resilience. Manchester United now sits in 4th place, firmly in the Champions League qualification zone. They are currently enjoying their best form of the 2026 season, and with Sesko acting as the ultimate "X-factor" from the bench, the Old Trafford faithful are starting to dream big again.
The "Carrick Revolution" is televised, and right now, it looks incredibly solid.
