Juan Mata secures United top Four Position

Juan Mata

Juan Mata’s second-half strike secured Manchester United’s 1-0 win at Norwich City yesterday to keep the visitors’ top-four hopes alive and severely dent the Canaries’ chances of retaining their Premier League status.

A cagey match at Carrow Road was settled by Mata’s side-foot finish in the 72nd minute after a pass from Wayne Rooney.

Victory kept United in fifth place, a point behind Manchester City, who welcome third-placed Arsenal to Eastlands today.

Norwich though are in serious trouble. They have lost four games in a row, without scoring in any of them, and it is that lack of goals which could ultimately prove costly.

The Canaries have faltered at the worst possible time, winning just two of their last 16 league games and losing 12.

Norwich next face Watford at home before a season-closing trip to Everton a week on Sunday, while FA Cup finalists United finish their league programme against West Ham United and Bournemouth.

United were dealt a blow ahead of kick-off as 15-goal striker Anthony Martial suffered an injury in the warm-up and was replaced by Ander Herrera.

Rooney was the focal point in a re-shaped United attack as Van Gaal deployed a 4-2-3-1 formation.
But Norwich, who had previously won just one of their last seven home league games, began at break-neck speed.

Roared on by thunderous support at Carrow Road, the hosts created the first chance of the match. With just three minutes on the clock, lively winger Nathan Redmond tricked his way beyond Michael Carrick and his perfect cross was headed firmly towards goal by Cameron Jerome but saved by the legs of United goalkeeper David de Gea.

Meanwhile, Sunderland climbed out of the Premier League relegation zone by coming from behind to beat Chelsea 3-2 yesterday as Leicester City got ready to celebrate their stunning title success.

The Black Cats were 2-1 down at home to Chelsea, last season’s champions, before two goals in three second-half minutes from Fabio Borini and Jermain Defoe dramatically turned the match their way.

Sunderland fell behind in the 14th minute through striker Diego Costa.

But they were level four minutes before the break when Tunisia’s Wahbi Khazri struck a brilliant 20-yard volley.

— AFP