On a chilly Boxing Day evening at Old Trafford, Manchester United secured a hard-fought **1-0 victory** over Newcastle United in the Premier League's sole fixture of the day. Patrick Dorgu's stunning first-half volley proved the difference, propelling the Red Devils to a season-high fifth place in the table and providing a much-needed boost for manager Ruben Amorim amid a challenging festive period.
The match, played on December 26, 2025, saw United line up without key players like the injured Bruno Fernandes, forcing Amorim to adapt. Notably, he shifted from his preferred back three to a back four, a tactical tweak that paid dividends in the first half. Lisandro MartÃnez captained the side on his first start in months, while young talents filled the bench.
The breakthrough came in the 24th minute. Diogo Dalot's long throw caused chaos in the Newcastle box, and after a partial clearance, the ball fell kindly to Dorgu on the edge of the area. The Danish wing-back, playing in an unfamiliar right-wing role, unleashed a spectacular rasping volley that arrowed into the top corner past a helpless Aaron Ramsdale. It was Dorgu's first goal for United since his summer arrival, and the celebration ignited the Old Trafford crowd.
United dominated the opening period, with Matheus Cunha lively in attack and Benjamin Sesko nearly adding a second. However, the second half was a different story. Newcastle, spurred by Eddie Howe, poured forward, enjoying over 66% possession and registering 16 shots to United's nine. Anthony Gordon and substitutes like Yoane Wissa threatened repeatedly, but United's defense—marshaled by MartÃnez and young Ayden Heaven—held firm. Goalkeeper Senne Lammens made key saves, and the hosts reverted to a back five to weather the storm.
Amorim later praised his team's resilience: "We had to suffer together... it was difficult, but we showed spirit." The win ended a run of poor home form and marked United's first clean sheet in recent weeks, a rare feat in a season plagued by defensive frailties.
For Newcastle, it was a frustrating afternoon. Despite dominating the expected goals (xG) battle narrowly, they lacked clinical finishing and extended their poor away record. Howe admitted: "We should have got something, but we only have ourselves to blame."
The three points lift United to 29 after 18 games, level with higher teams pending other results, and offer hope heading into fixtures against lower-table sides like Wolves. Dorgu's wondergoal will be replayed for years, symbolizing a gritty, determined performance that reminded fans of United's fighting spirit on a traditional Boxing Day clash.
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