United Secures Hard-Fought Victory at Old Trafford

Manchester United achieved a significant victory at Old Trafford on Friday, despite having only 33 percent possession and fewer chances than their opponents, Newcastle. The 21-year-old forward, Dorgu, reacted swiftly to an attempted clearance, striking a volley from 15 yards past goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale. This marked Dorgu’s first goal for the club since joining from Lecce in early 2025, a milestone that brought him immense satisfaction.

In an interview with Sky Sports, Dorgu expressed his excitement: “It was a good hit. I didn’t know I could do that, but I was very happy to score my first goal in this stadium. It was amazing. I just focused on what Ruben Amorim advised me regarding building my confidence. I felt I performed well today; I simply watched the ball, saw it drop, and struck it. My training has been beneficial, and I think that contributed to my success.”

Although the win was not aesthetically pleasing, head coach Amorim acknowledged it as one of his most rewarding victories since taking charge 13 months ago. “The feeling is good. Compared to other matches, we faced significant challenges today, yet we put everything on the line at crucial moments,” he stated. “We defended every cross, especially in the second half, at times employing a back six. There have been matches where we dominated the opponent more effectively, but achieving a clean sheet feels rewarding. We endured together, and if we maintain this spirit, we will secure many more victories.”

Amorim also praised Dorgu for his contributions, especially after a challenging first year at the club. Both he and the young player hope this performance serves as a turning point.

“I am really pleased with Dorgu, as well as Manuel Ugarte, who has faced difficulties but performed admirably today. I appreciated how the entire bench engaged with the game. Everyone stepped up with leadership roles to help secure the win. The players train alongside me daily and understand my intentions come from a place of support. I am honest with them, and I believe it is essential for the fans to grasp that. I see no issue with this approach. Dorgu played in a different position today, one that allowed him more freedom to take risks, which benefited Patrick’s performance as well.”

Dorgu’s goal, which stemmed from a throw-in, was United’s 13th set-piece goal of the season, excluding penalties, surpassing Arsenal in this aspect. According to Opta, Arsenal has netted 11 set-piece goals in the Premier League this term, while Leeds United has achieved 12. Despite the nature of such goals, Amorim remains satisfied with securing the win, even if it was not achieved through dominant play.

He added, “This victory contrasts with many of our home games where we performed better but failed to secure three points. We had a solid first half, but in the second half, we faced pressure from the fans. Newcastle is a formidable team, and we assigned some players to roles they were less accustomed to, including those with limited experience at this level. The context of the match was challenging for us, but the important thing is that we won, and tomorrow, people will only remember the result.”

As for Arsenal, currently at the top of the Premier League, they aim to extend their lead when they face Brighton on Saturday, before concluding the year against title contenders Aston Villa on Tuesday. Meanwhile, fifth-placed Manchester United will host bottom-of-the-table Wolves on the same night.