Noah Okafor struck twice as Leeds United secured a historic 2-1 victory over ten-man Manchester United at Old Trafford, ending a 45-year wait for a league win away to their fierce rivals.
The Swiss forward punished United’s defensive frailties with two first-half goals before Lisandro Martinez was sent off after the interval for pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s hair. Casemiro pulled one back for the hosts, but Leeds held firm to claim a result that could prove pivotal in their fight against relegation.
The win is Leeds’ first top-flight victory over United since 2002 and their first league triumph at Old Trafford since 1979. It also snapped a seven-game winless run in the Premier League, lifting Daniel Farke’s side six points clear of the relegation zone with six matches remaining.
Leeds, who also reached the FA Cup semi-finals where they face Chelsea on 26 April, produced a blistering start. In the fifth minute, Jayden Bogle’s cross was poorly cleared by Leny Yoro, allowing Okafor to fire home from ten yards. He doubled the lead in the 29th minute after more chaotic United defending, his shot taking a heavy deflection off Yoro beyond goalkeeper Senne Lammens.
United’s night worsened when Martinez saw red in the 56th minute for needlessly tugging Calvert-Lewin’s hair, with referee Paul Tierney issuing the dismissal after consulting the pitchside monitor.
Despite being a man down, United reduced the deficit in the 69th minute when Casemiro powered Bruno Fernandes’ cross past Karl Darlow. Fernandes’ assist was his 17th league goal creation of the season, closing in on the record of 20 held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne.
Leeds survived a frantic finish. Calvert-Lewin headed straight at Lammens from close range, Darlow made a superb save from Benjamin Sesko, and last-dictch clearances denied Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte.
For interim boss Michael Carrick, it was only his second defeat in 11 matches since replacing Ruben Amorim. United remain third in the table, seven points clear of sixth-placed Chelsea as they chase a top-five finish and a return to the Champions League for the first time since the 2023-24 season.
