Manchester United's recent drop in form saw them play a beautiful game in the Premier League in the early hours of Thursday morning (16th) and enter the game with three Under-21 stars, beating Newcastle 3-2 in this year's curtain-raiser at Otford. Manchester United are eighth in the Ijama. If they finish seventh in the Wicked Battle, they will at least qualify for the Europa League. In addition, the EFL Cup winners get a direct entry into the Europa League, and United will be vying to 'call it a double flight' for European qualification next season.
United's last home game of the season saw the players playing very positively, with Maneo scoring an unmarked easy goal in the 31st minute. Anthony Gordon chased down Newcastle on 49 minutes, but a group of newcomers to the 'Red Devils' played well. They shot wildly from the penalty area at Amity Road on 57 minutes and then prepared to play at Helen for 84 minutes before scoring another goal. Newcastle's extra time was chased by Heer at 2-3, but it was too late.
United's three goal-scoring heroes in this match were 19 year old Maneo and 21 year old Amit Diaru and 21 year old Helen, which proves that the team has a good foundation for the future. Captain Tannhäuser made a curtain-raiser statement at the end of the game: "Thank you to the fans for their support this season. I'll do my best to get 3 points before the end of the season and then go to Wembley. I promise I'll do my best to bring back the EFL title!"
Manchester United have the same number of points as seventh-placed Newcastle (57), but with an inferior goal difference to their rivals, Brakes will have to get more points than Newcastle to climb over their rivals first. If United manage to finish seventh, they will first qualify for the Europa League, then win the EFL Cup final and go straight into the Europa League. On Sunday (19th), United Brakes will be guests at Brighton, while Newcastle will be guests at Ford.
