Zuniga and Deeney clinched the points for the hosts
after Marcus Rashford squared the game with United's first shot on
target in the tie
Juan Zuniga scored 53 seconds after coming on and Troy Deeney netted a
stoppage-time penalty as Watford beat Manchester United 3-1 on Sunday,
condemning Jose Mourinho's men to a third consecutive defeat.
A dramatic opening period saw Odion Ighalo miss an open goal for
Walter Mazzarri's side, before Paul Pogba struck the crossbar from
long-range for the visitors in the Premier League clash at Vicarage
Road.
Etienne Capoue then put Watford ahead with his fourth goal of the
season, but Marcus Rashford – handed his first Premier League start of
the campaign – equalised after the break.
However, that would not prevent United from following up defeats to
Manchester City and Feyenoord with another loss, Zuniga capping a great
team move just moments after coming on and Deeney putting the icing on
the cake from the spot.
United's latest reverse leaves them six points adrift of the early
Premier League leaders, Pep Guardiola's City, and puts Mourinho under
immediate pressure to turn their results around.
Watford, meanwhile, now have two consecutive victories, setting
Mazzarri up superbly for a favourable run of fixtures in the weeks
ahead.
Having won their first game of the season against West Ham last week,
Watford started on the front foot, with Deeney inches away from tapping
in Sebastian Prodl's header at the far post.
The hosts were even closer in their next attack, Ighalo guilty of a
dreadful miss after Prodl's long ball caused a mix-up between United
goalkeeper David de Gea and Chris Smalling. That left the Nigeria
striker with an open goal, but he somehow failed to find the target.
Deeney's header was then superbly kept out by a flying De Gea, while
United's first menacing attack saw Zlatan Ibrahimovic lash a good
opening into the side-netting after a cross from Rashford deflected into
his path.
A thrilling first half continued as Pogba collected Marouane
Fellaini's pass and curled a dipping effort from 30 yards against the
bar.
But the breakthrough came at the other end in the 34th minute when
Martial – who had previously received a nasty knock to the head - was
dispossessed by Miguel Britos in a dangerous area, with referee Michael
Oliver ignoring United claims for a foul.
That allowed Daryl Janmaat to race clear down the right and cut back
for Capoue to beat De Gea with a low, first-time finish and the
visitors' misery was compounded by a stricken Martial having to be
replaced by Ashley Young immediately after the goal.
United were initially sluggish in pursuit of an equaliser, but they
struck back in the 62nd minute through their first shot on target.
Rashford was involved in the build-up - playing a one-two with
Ibrahimovic - and when the Swede's cross deflected off Valon Behrami,
the 18-year-old pounced to direct his shot under Heurelho Gomes from
three yards out.
United came close to claiming all three points when Gomes got down
impressively to claw away Ibrahimovic's powerful header from Fellaini's
searching delivery, but there was a dramatic sting in the tail.
A slick Watford passing sequence saw Nordin Amrabat and Roberto
Pereyra combine to set up Zuniga and he swept home on 83 minutes.
They were not done there either, with another substitute - Isaac
Success - helping Zuniga to win a penalty under Fellaini's challenge in
stoppage-time.
Deeney took it and powered home to delight the Vicarage Road crowd as
the home side snapped a nine-game losing streak in league matches
against United.
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