Manchester United 2-1 Stoke City
JUAN MATA GRABBED the winner as Manchester United secured a fourth successive Premier League triumph by beating Stoke City 2-1.
Mata’s second-half free-kick evaded everybody and flew into the corner to help the hosts earn the spoils after Steven N’Zonzi had cancelled out Marouane Fellaini’s header at Old Trafford.
United headed into the game brimming with confidence having risen to fourth in the table, despite a sluggish start to life under Louis van Gaal. And some fine early play was rewarded when Fellaini headed home a first-half opener from Ander Herrera’s cross. Stoke responded well and found a way back into the game thanks to a stunning strike from Steven N’Zonzi six minutes before half-time.
However, United regrouped upon the restart and grabbed a deserved three points thanks to Mata’s intervention — albeit after surviving a couple of late scares as Mame Biram Diouf twice almost thwarted his former club.
First, the Senegalese striker was blocked by David De Gea before the United keeper saved Marko Arnautovic’s strike from point-blank range and Ashley Young made a last gasp clearance on the goal-line.
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