Manchester United 6 Leeds United 2: Whites hit by early blitz in Old Trafford goal fest

Scott McTominay netted twice in the opening three minutes and strikes from Bruno Fernandes and Victor Lindelof made it 4-0 after 37 minutes.

Whites captain Liam Cooper then pulled a goal back with a header from a corner eight minutes before the break but Daniel James added the home side's fifth in the 66th minute.

Fernandes then made it 6-1 two minutes later with a penalty before Leeds pulled another goal back through Stuart Dallas and whilst the Whites continued to attack only some fine saves from Illan Meslier prevented the Red Devils from adding to their tally.

The Red Devils made a flying start and took the lead after just 67 seconds with McTominay firing home from the edge of the box after being set up by Fernandes.

Just two minutes later the hosts doubled their lead with McTominay quickly netting his second with a neat finish following a darting run into the box after latching on to a through ball from Anthony Martial.

Leeds squandered a fine chance to pull a goal back in the eighth minute when Patrick Bamford fired wide when clean through following a fine pass from Rodrigo.

A strong block from Cooper was then needed to keep out a fierce drive from Marcus Rashford and Cooper's sliding challenge then prevented Rashford from being clean through minutes later.

Bamford volleyed home in the 19th minute but the striker was offside and within 30 seconds the Red Devils had a third as Fernandes rifled a low shot home from inside the box from a flowing counter.

Leeds then squandered another good chance in the 25th minute when Bamford sent a free header over from a Mateusz Klich cross.

Gjanni Alioski then saw a firm drive blocked before Raphinha's drive from a cleared corner was saved by the feet of David De Gea though Jack Harrison was offside.

And the Red Devils then bagged a fourth as Lindelof smashed the ball home from a corner which Leeds failed to clear after Martial's flick on.

Leeds finally pulled a goal back four minutes before the break when Cooper headed home Raphina's corner.

Rashford then saw a shot deflected wide at the other end before forcing a strong save with a powerful drive from the edge of the box after the corner was cleared.

Whites head coach Marcelo Bielsa made a double change at the break with Kalvin Phillips and Klich taken off for Pascal Struijk and Jamie Shackleton.

The Red Devils should have made it 5-1 two minutes after the restart with Martial scuffing a shot wide from inside the box but De Gea then made a brilliant save to keep out a Raphinha volley which dropped on to the post.

Another smart save from De Gea then tipped a Raphinha drive around the post but the Red Devils went 5-1 up moments later when McTominay's pass found Daniel James who skipped into the area before firing through Illan Meslier's legs.

The hosts were then awarded a penalty two minutes later as Struijk fouled Martial and Fernandes tucked away the spot kick.

Leeds then lost Cooper to injury with Leif Davis coming on as the final substitute.

It would have been 7-1 moments later but for Meslier denying denying Martial with his legs and Leeds then pulled another goal back with a fine finish from Stuart Dallas from the edge of the box.

The Whites continued to attack and Jack Harrison's effort from inside the area was deflected behind for a corner from which Luke Ayling headed over but Meslier pulled off a fine double save to deny first Edinson Cavani and then James.

Meslier then saved to keep out a drive from Alex Telles before Harry Maguire headed straight at the Whites 'keeper.

Yet another save from Meslier then denied Fred before Martial headed over.

Leeds should have had a third in the 90th minute when Harrison fired wide and it proved the final chance of a crazy game featuring constant attacking football from both sides.

Manchester United: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw (Telles 61); McTominay, Fred; James, Fernandes (van de Beek 71), Rashford (Cavani 71); Martial. Subs not used: Henderson, Bailly, Mata, Matic, Pogba, Greenwood.

Leeds United: Meslier, Dallas, Ayling, Cooper (Davis 72), Alioski, Phillips (Struijk 46), Klich (Shackleton 46), Raphinha, Harrison, Rodrigo, Bamford. Subs not used: Casilla, Casey, Costa, Roberts, Hernandez, Poveda.

Referee: Anthony Taylor.

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/yorkshire-evening-post-launch-leeds-united-only-digital-subscription-ahead-premier-league-campaign-2967964

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Thank you Laura Collins