Pogba finally starting to shine as United goes top
LONDON: Paul Pogba is producing some of the best football of his turbulent Manchester United career and it has the team at the top of the English Premier League, with his brilliant strike securing a 21 comeback win at lowly Fulham.
The game was level at 11 when Pogba created space for himself before bending a leftfooted effort from outside the area past Fulham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola and into the corner of the net.
His 65thminute winner at Craven Cottage returned United to the top, hours after
Manchester City beat Aston Villa 20 to briefly go above its derby rival and a day after Leicester City took over at the summit for a brief spell.
United is two points clear of secondplace City, which is ahead of the Foxes on goal difference.
With Pogba playing so well — and showing an appetite for the battle that many United fans have longed to see since his return to the club for a second spell in 2016 — Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team is a serious title contender.
‘‘It was a fantastic goal by Paul and we had some other chances as well [in the] second half to finish the game,’’ Solskjaer said.
‘‘He’s really come on. He’s fit, he can play in midfield, he can play wide. That’s the key with Paul, getting him match fit and really running fit and he is at the moment.’’
Fulham took the lead early via Ademola Lookman before Edinson Cavani responded on 21 minutes, capitalising on a mistake from Areola.
Earlier in the day, a contentious opening goal helped City overcome a stubborn Villa at the Etihad.
Bernardo Silva finally broke
Villa’s resistance by scoring off City’s 36th effort at goal before Ilkay Guendogan’s penalty sealed a victory that extended the winning run of the premier league’s form team to six matches.
The opening goal was controversial because Rodri was returning from an offside position when he dispossessed Villa defender Tyrone Mings before releasing Silva.
No offside was given, though, and the officials explained post match that a new phase of play had started when Mings controlled the ball on his chest before being picked off by Rodri.
But Villa manager Dean Smith, who was sent off for protesting against the awarding of the goal, was having none of it.
‘‘It was a farcical decision. I’ve not seen a goal like that given. It needs to be looked at. I don’t think anyone in this stadium thought it was a goal,’’ he said.
‘‘Are we just going to leave players behind the line then? It’s farcical. He was 10 yards offside and come back and tackled our player. It’s a pathetic law and a pathetic decision.’’ — AP