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SUPER SUBS FRED AND ELANGA GIVE UNITED VICTORY IN 6 GOAL THRILLER AT LEEDS

Super subs Fred and Anthony Elanga came off the bench to fire Manchester United to a 4-2 win over Leeds United in a classic at Elland Road.

With torrential rain providing testing conditions, Cristiano Ronaldo was denied at close-range by a great stop from Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier before Man Utd went ahead through Harry Maguire’s header from a Luke Shaw corner on 34 minutes.

Bruno Fernandes doubled the Red Devils’ advantage with another headed goal from Jadon Sancho’s cross in first-half stoppage time.

The introduction of Leeds’ duo Joe Gelhardt and Raphinha at half-time turned the match on its head.

Rodrigo pulled a goal back with a 53rd-minute cross that looped beyond David De Gea inside the far post and Leeds were level at 2-2 within 60 seconds when Raphinha slid in to convert Daniel James’ delivery.

On an afternoon of impact substitutions, Fred and Elanga came on to settle the match in Man Utd’s favour.

Fred superbly fired in from Sancho’s 70th-minute pass before Elanga slotted home from Fernandes’s assist.

Back-to-back wins put fourth-placed Man Utd on 46 points, four points above West Ham United, in fifth. Leeds remain 15th on 23 points, five points off the relegation zone.

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MAN UTD CHARGED FOR CROWDING REFEREE AFTER LEWIS DUNK’S TACKLE ON ANTHONY ELANGA

Manchester United have been charged by the Football Association for their reaction to Brighton captain Lewis Dunk’s challenge on Anthony Elanga.

The Red Devils won Tuesday’s Premier League meeting 2-0 thanks to goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes on a night when the visitors were reduced to 10 men early in the second half.

Dunk was initially booked for bringing down Elanga, only for it to be upgraded to a red after referee Peter Bankes was advised to check the pitchside monitor by video assistant referee Jarred Gillett.

The official was harangued by United players following the initial incident and the FA has now charged the club.

“Manchester United FC has been charged with a breach of FA Rule E.20.1 following its Premier League game against Brighton & Hove Albion FC on Tuesday [15/2/22],” a statement from the governing body read.

“It is alleged that Manchester United FC failed to ensure its players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion during the 53rd minute, and the club has until Monday [21/2/22] to provide a response.”

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UEFA TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGED RACIST ABUSE OF ANTHONY ELANGA DURING U21 MATCH

UEFA has opened a disciplinary investigation into the alleged racial abuse directed at Manchester United forward Anthony Elanga while playing for Sweden Under-21s.

The alleged incident took place during Sweden’s 1-1 draw with Italy in a European U21 Championship qualifier in Monza on Tuesday. Elanga, 19, played the full 90 minutes and made the complaint after the game.

The Italian Football Federation subsequently dismissed the claim and called for clarification from the European governing body.

On Thursday evening, UEFA confirmed a formal investigation would take place.

“In accordance with Article 31(4) of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations, a UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector has been appointed to conduct a disciplinary investigation regarding the incidents which allegedly occurred during the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying match between Italy and Sweden played on 12 October 2021,” a statement read.

“Information on this matter will be made available in due course.”

The game finished in dramatic fashion as Sweden snatched a stoppage-time equaliser through Tim Prica.

Sweden submitted reports to both the referees and the match delegates.

“I do not want to go further into what was said and by whom, but when I heard from Anthony what was said, it became clear to me that this is something that needs to be reported,” Martin Fredman, head of security at the Swedish Football Association said in a statement on www.svenskfotboll.se.

“Neither Anthony nor anyone else for that matter should have to be exposed to that type of attack.

“Anthony is back in Manchester and is feeling well under the circumstances. We will of course have continued close contact with him and have a dialogue about how we handle this in the future.”

The Italian federation (FIGC) insisted nothing of a racist nature occurred at any point, denying “in the most absolute way” that one of their under-21 players “expressed racist slurs against an opponent”.

Elanga has made three senior appearances for United and scored in a 2-1 win against Wolves on the final day of last season.