- Commissioner’s statement on Ventura, Marte
- Ronnie O’Sullivan: Masters champion ‘felt so vulnerable’ in final
- Arron Fletcher Wins 2017 WSOP International Circuit Marrakech Main Event ($140,224)
- Smith challenges Warner to go big in India
- Moncada No. 1 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Braves land 2 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Kingery makes MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- New Zealand wrap up 2-0 after Bangladesh implosion
- Mathews, Pradeep, Gunathilaka to return to Sri Lanka
- Elliott hopes for rain for Poli
Watford vs. Manchester United: Score and Reaction from 2016 Premier League Match
- Updated: September 18, 2016
Substitute Juan Camilo Zuniga condemned Manchester United to a third defeat in a row in all competitions after putting Watford 2-1 ahead at Vicarage Road on Sunday before winning a stoppage-time penalty that Troy Deeney converted to give the Hornets a 3-1 win over troubled United on Sunday.
Zuniga had put Watford 2-1 in front with less than 10 minutes to go, less than 60 seconds after entering the game. The Red Devils are now six points behind neighbours Manchester City and already look off the pace in the Premier League title race.
Etienne Capoue had given Watford the lead before the break, which was just reward for a dominant first-half display from the hosts. However, Marcus Rashford got United back in it just after the hour mark, scoring on his first league start under manager Jose Mourinho.
Watford boss Walter Mazzarri named a strong starting XI featuring excellent summer buys Daryl Janmaat and Roberto Pereyra, per the team’s official site:
TEAM NEWS: One change for #watfordfc v @ManUtd. Prödl replaces Kaboul (slight hamstring). Kenedy & Amrabat on bench. pic.twitter.com/09inEMd1W7
— Watford FC (@WatfordFC) September 18, 2016
Meanwhile, United chief Mourinho restored Anthony Martial to the starting lineup. He also made room for Rashford in a speedy forward line built to play on the break, per the club:
Today’s #MUFC team to face Watford… #WATMUN pic.twitter.com/b3k3Em1BzC
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 18, 2016
Significantly, Chris Smalling came in at the heart of defence alongside summer arrival Eric Bailly, with Dutchman Daley Blind dropped, which is a rarity, according to Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News:
Only the second time Blind’s been dropped in his #mufc career. Better footballer than Smalling but debtable whether he’s a better defender.
— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) September 18, 2016
A lot of focus was on world-record signing Paul Pogba, whose start to his second spell at United has been sluggish. But the Frenchman was on the ball early and often playing on the left of a midfield three.
Still, United’s most obvious initial threats were down the flanks. Fortunately, Watford wing-backs Janmaat and Jose Holebas were receiving solid support from midfield players tracking overlapping …
