Man Utd Player Ratings vs Leeds Utd: Benjamin Sesko Endures Another Shocker as Cunha and Zirkzee Rescue a Point

Cunha and Zirkzee Save Manchester United as Leeds Let Historic Win Slip

Manchester United escaped Elland Road with a point on Sunday afternoon, but it was hardly a performance to write home about. In a fixture loaded with history, edge and expectation, the Red Devils were second-best for long spells and needed a moment of sharp combination play from Matheus Cunha and substitute Joshua Zirkzee to avoid defeat against old rivals Leeds United.

The final score finished 1-1, a result that perhaps suited neither side. Leeds will feel they missed a golden opportunity to claim their first home league win over United since 2002, while United were left once again answering uncomfortable questions — most notably about Benjamin Sesko, whose miserable afternoon summed up a worrying trend rather than a one-off bad day.

Injury-Hit United and a Cautious First Half at Elland Road

United’s problems started long before kick-off. Ruben Amorim arrived in West Yorkshire without eight senior players, including four of his top six goal contributors. The scale of the injury crisis forced the Portuguese coach into an ultra-pragmatic setup, with six defenders and two holding midfielders starting a match that normally demands bravery and composure in possession.

The first half unfolded exactly as expected. It was scrappy, tense and often attritional, with neither side willing or able to take control. Leeds pressed with energy but lacked clarity in the final third, while United looked like a team trying to survive rather than impose themselves.

Aside from a Matheus Cunha effort ruled out for offside, chances were scarce. Dominic Calvert-Lewin struck the post for Leeds, briefly lifting the home crowd, while Leny Yoro’s close-range header forced a sharp save from Lucas Perri at the other end. It was a half defined more by nerves than quality.

Leeds Step It Up After the Break

If the first half was cagey, Leeds emerged from the interval with renewed intent. They pushed higher, moved the ball quicker and tested United’s defensive concentration. Senne Lammens was forced into action, tipping Gabriel Gudmundsson’s effort around the post as Leeds began to sense an opportunity.

Still, the breakthrough came not from sustained brilliance but from familiar United errors. Diogo Dalot lost possession cheaply in midfield, Pascal Struijk pounced, and Brenden Aaronson showed far greater hunger than Ayden Heaven to latch onto the loose ball. The American midfielder raced clear and calmly slotted past Lammens.

Elland Road erupted. The noise was deafening, fuelled by more than just the goal — this felt like a chance to finally exorcise two decades of frustration against their biggest rivals.

Cunha and Zirkzee Change the Game

Leeds’ joy, however, lasted just three minutes.

Ruben Amorim had already turned to his bench, introducing Joshua Zirkzee in a bid to inject intelligence and composure into United’s attack. Almost immediately, the change paid off. Benjamin Sesko — quiet and ineffective for most of the afternoon — dropped deep to receive the ball and, to his credit, found Zirkzee with a neat pass.

What followed was the clearest piece of football United produced all game. Zirkzee released Matheus Cunha with a perfectly weighted through ball, and the Brazilian did the rest, sliding the ball past the advancing Perri with confidence and class.

It was a reminder of what Cunha brings when United manage to get him involved in the right areas.

Sesko’s Miss Sums Up a Painful Afternoon

With momentum briefly on their side, United had chances to snatch all three points. Cunha rattled the woodwork, and then came the moment that will haunt Benjamin Sesko.

From close range, with the goal at his mercy, the £74m striker somehow missed the target. It was a miss that drained the air out of United’s late push and left team-mates visibly frustrated. For Leeds, substitute Joel Piroe nearly had the final say, sending a late effort inches over the bar.

When the final whistle blew, there was relief on the United bench — and a sense of what might have been among the home supporters.

Man Utd Player Ratings vs Leeds Utd

Leeds United v Manchester United – Premier League

Goalkeeper & Defence

Senne Lammens (6/10)
Handled himself well in a hostile environment. His save from Gudmundsson was routine, but the stop from Okafor’s overhead kick was excellent. Could do little about Aaronson’s goal.

Leny Yoro (6/10)
Showed nerves early on and occasionally rushed his clearances, but largely coped with the occasion. Still learning, still growing.

Ayden Heaven (6/10)
Excellent in the first half, composed and alert. Lost the decisive duel with Aaronson for the goal but recovered well and didn’t let it unravel his game.

Lisandro Martinez (7/10)
United’s defensive leader on the day. Aggressive, vocal and dominant in challenges. His experience showed when others around him wobbled.

Midfield

Leeds United v Manchester United – Premier League

Diogo Dalot (5/10)
Started well but his mistake directly led to Leeds’ goal. A costly lapse in a game where margins were already thin.

Manuel Ugarte (6/10)
Not flawless in possession, but put in several crunching tackles and helped steady the midfield during Leeds’ strongest spell.

Casemiro (6/10)
Gave the ball away too often, yet his positioning and experience helped United manage the final stages.

Luke Shaw (6/10)
Brave defensive work, including a crucial block in the first half. Mixed bag going forward but worked hard to recover when caught out.

Attack

Leeds United v Manchester United – Premier League

Patrick Dorgu (5/10)
Couldn’t replicate the impact he had against Newcastle. Drifted in and out of the game without really influencing it.

Matheus Cunha (7/10)
United’s standout attacker. Took his goal brilliantly and came agonisingly close to a winner. Carried the threat when others faltered.

Benjamin Sesko (4/10)
A worrying performance. Poor movement, low confidence and a glaring miss that summed up his struggles. For a £74m signing, expectations are far higher than this.

Subs & Manager

Leeds United v Manchester United – Premier League

Joshua Zirkzee (7/10)
Made an immediate impact. His vision and passing changed the dynamic of United’s attack. Looks far more effective off the bench right now.

Ruben Amorim (6/10)
Given the injuries and the atmosphere, his cautious approach was understandable. It wasn’t pretty, but it avoided a damaging defeat.

What the Draw Means Going Forward

For Manchester United, this felt like a point gained rather than two dropped, even if that is a worrying admission for a club of their stature. Injuries have robbed Amorim of stability, and performances like this underline how fragile United remain when key players are missing.

For Leeds, the frustration will linger. They were close — painfully close — to a famous victory, but a moment of quality from Cunha and Zirkzee denied them.

As for Benjamin Sesko, scrutiny will only intensify. Big-money strikers are judged on moments, and his moment at Elland Road slipped away when United needed him most.