Cunha Rescues Point as United Hold Leeds at Elland Road
Rivals cancel each other out in tense Yorkshire draw
Matheus Cunha’s second-half equaliser earned Manchester United a 1-1 draw away to Leeds United in a fiercely contested Premier League clash at a bouncing Elland Road.
Leeds looked on course for a famous victory after Brenden Aaronson fired them ahead shortly after the hour mark, but Ruben Amorim’s side responded quickly through Cunha, who finished calmly after being set up by substitute Joshua Zirkzee.
The result extended Leeds’ unbeaten run to seven games, while United were left to reflect on another missed opportunity in a season disrupted by injuries and inconsistency.
Intensity high but quality limited early on
The atmosphere was electric from the first whistle and the opening exchanges matched the noise. United threatened early through Manuel Ugarte, whose looping header landed on the roof of the net, while Cunha had a fine strike ruled out for offside.
At the other end, Dominic Calvert-Lewin caused problems with his physical presence and went close in the 35th minute when he stretched to meet Anton Stach’s curling cross, only to see his header clip the far post.
Despite the energy, the first half drifted into a scrappy rhythm as both sides struggled to impose sustained control. United, missing eight first-team players, slowed the tempo to quieten the home crowd and reach the break level.
Leeds strike first after the break
The second half opened up, with chances at both ends. Gabriel Gudmundsson and Ugarte both tested the goalkeepers before Leeds finally made the breakthrough in the 62nd minute.
A hopeful ball forward from Pascal Struijk caught United hesitating at the back, and Aaronson reacted quickest to take a touch and drive a low finish past Senne Lammens, sending Elland Road into raptures.
Cunha responds immediately
That lead lasted just three minutes. Amorim reacted instantly by introducing Zirkzee, and the Dutch forward made an immediate impact. His clever pass split the Leeds defence and sent Cunha through, who kept his composure to slide the ball past Lucas Perri.
The equaliser briefly shifted momentum United’s way. Benjamin Sesko missed a golden chance from close range after good work from Zirkzee, while Cunha saw a late effort from the edge of the area clip the post.
Late pressure but no winner
Leeds continued to push in the closing stages, with Joël Piroe providing fresh energy off the bench, but United held firm. A stunning overhead kick from Noah Okafor forced a strong save from Lammens as the visitors looked for a late winner of their own.
In the end, honours were shared in a result that kept Leeds moving forward but left United feeling they could have taken more.
