Manchester United 2-0 Sunderland: Report, result, goals as hosts pick up important Premier League win
The damage was done early as United scored twice in the first half
First-half goals from Mason Mount and Benjamin Sesko were enough to give Manchester United a much-needed victory as they saw off Sunderland at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Saturday.
Both goals came in the opening 31-minutes as United bounced back from a dismal 3-1 loss at the hands of Brentford last weekend to move up to eighth in the table.
For the visitors, it was only their second league defeat of the season following promotion from the Championship last term.
Regis Le Bris’s side have impressed on their return to the top-flight but they were undone in a match that, just six games into the league campaign, already felt like a hugely pivotal occasion for United boss Ruben Amorim.
So relief may well have been the overriding emotion felt by the Portuguese head coach when his side took an early lead courtesy of Mount’s first league goal for United at Old Trafford.
Less than 10 minutes had elapsed when the midfielder was picked out by Bryan Mbeumo; the England international requiring a touch to control before beating Robin Roefs with an effort from just inside the box that nestled into the corner.
If the Sunderland keeper could do little to prevent Mount’s goal, the Dutchman – signed in the summer from NEC Nijmegen for a reported £9m – kept his side from falling further behind just moments later with a sublime stop, palming Bruno Fernandes’ top corner-destined strike onto the bar.
But the hosts would not be denied for long. On the half-hour mark, Diogo Dalot’s throw was flicked into the path of Sesko by a Sunderland player, allowing the Slovenian to poke the ball home from six yards out.
Sunderland then had a penalty shout overturned by VAR as United went into the break with their two-goal advantage intact.
In the second-half, Le Bris threw caution to the wind, ringing the changes with a triple substitution shortly after the restart.
But it seemed to do little to alter the course of the game. Substitute Matheus Cunha headed narrowly wide from a corner before Chemsdine Talbi wasted a glorious chance late on when he blasted straight at the legs of debutant stopper Senne Lammens.
In the end, the hosts held on to claim an important, morale-boosting three points and, in the process, keep a first clean sheet of the season.
You can relive 101GreatGoals.com’s live text updates from Manchester United vs Sunderland here. United are next in action at Liverpool on October 19, a day after Sunderland host Wolves.
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Man United team vs Sunderland
United midfielder Casemiro was back from a ban, as was winger Amad Diallo following a family bereavement.
Senne Lammens made his United debut by replacing Altay Bayindir in goal, behind a defence newly featuring Leny Yoro.
Mount also started in midfield. Harry Maguire, Patrick Dorgu, Manuel Ugarte and Matheus Cunha dropped to the bench.
Centre-back Lisandro Martinez has a long-term knee injury and wideman Noussair Mazraoui is out until after next week’s international break.
Manchester United starting XI: Senne Lammens, Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt, Luke Shaw, Amad Diallo, Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Dalot, Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko, Mason Mount
Man United substitutes: Altay Bayindir, Harry Maguire, Matheus Cunha, Joshua Zirkzee, Patrick Dorgu, Manuel Ugarte, Ayden Heaven, Diego Leon, Kobbie Mainoo
Sunderland team vs Manchester United
Sunderland’s Luke O’Nien returned from a long-term shoulder injury on the bench against Forest, where the midfielder featured again.
Winger Romaine Mundle is expected to miss around six weeks with a hamstring issue and defenders Dennis Cirkin (wrist) Leo Hjelde (Achilles) and Aji Alese remain out, with manager Regis Le Bris predicting Alese will miss around a month.
Amad Diallo top-scored for Sunderland with 14 goals and four assists during a season-long loan from United in 2022/23.
Sunderland starting XI: Robin Roefs, Trai Hume, Nordi Mukiele, Omar Alderete, Arthur Masuaku, Bertrand Traore, Granit Xhaka, Enzo Le Fee, Noah Sadiki, Simon Adingra, Wilson Isidor
Sunderland substitutes: Anthony Patterson, Dan Neil, Dan Ballard, Lutsharel Geertruida, Chemsdine Talbi, Brian Brobbey, Chris Rigg, Eliezer Mayenda, Luke O’Nien
Premier League results and fixtures this weekend
Matches start at 14:00 BST / 09:00 ET / 06:00 PT unless stated otherwise.
Friday, October 3
Saturday, October 4
Manchester United 2-0 Sunderland
Chelsea vs Liverpool (17:30)
Sunday, October 5
Aston Villa vs Burnley
Everton vs Crystal Palace
Newcastle vs Nottingham Forest
Wolves vs Brighton & Hove Albion
Brentford vs Manchester City (16:30)