Casemiro’s acrobatic finish propelled Manchester United to a 1-0 victory against Bournemouth, bringing them closer to securing a top-four finish.
United now only require a single point from their remaining fixtures against Chelsea and Fulham to secure a spot in the Champions League for the next season.
United took the lead when Christian Eriksen lofted a pass into the box, where Casemiro showcased his exceptional improvisation skills, generating incredible power to beat goalkeeper Neto and find the back of the net.
The Cherries had a chance to equalize when Dominic Solanke made a cutting run into the box and took a snapshot at goal which De Gea saved comfortably.
In the second half, David Brooks unleashed a powerful strike that required a spectacular save from De Gea, who tipped the ball over the crossbar.
United came close to adding to their lead when Bruno Fernandes seized upon a poor clearance from a corner. However, Neto matched Fernandes’ shot with a strong save, pushing the ball away to safety.
In the dying moments of the match, Bournemouth had their best opportunity when Kieffer Moore found himself in a one-on-one situation, his shot went straight into De Gea’s legs, allowing United to secure all three points.
United manager Ten Hag acknowledged the missed opportunities from his team while commending the performance of his goalkeeper.
“Our only criticism is that we didn’t finish off the game. We needed that second goal, but that’s the nature of this team. Scoring goals is not easy,” Ten Hag said.
On Casemiro’s goal, Ten Hag had this to say, “It was a fantastic goal by Casemiro. We put pressure on them, and didn’t allow them breathing space in the first 25 minutes.”
The manager also addressed the recent mistake made by De Gea, saying, “David made a mistake a few weeks ago, but everuone can make mistakes. We defend as a team with all 11 players, which is why we have achieved numerous clean sheets. David made some excellent saves.”
Bournemouth’s manager Gary O’Neil expressed pride in his team’s performance and highlighted the return of David Brooks to the starting XI.
“We were good, we gave everything in a close game. We were right in it and had a big chance at the end. It is Manchester United and we had players missing,” Gary O’Neil said.
“We want to treat every game with respect and give a good account of ourselves. Brooks earned his right to start today, it’s not a friendly and we were very competitive. We deserved something from the game.
“For his first game back after such a long time Brooks showed some great touches. Pre-season will be big for him but I’m delighted to have him back.
“He will be a good option for us next season.”
