Within just one week, Manchester United have twice let victory slip through their fingers in stoppage time — a frustrating pattern that Crickex App reports is becoming all too familiar for the Red Devils. Despite leading late into their clash with Leicester City, United conceded a heartbreaking 94th-minute equalizer, squandering what should have been a decisive win.
Juan Mata’s brilliant brace had given United a 2–1 lead, showcasing flashes of their attacking potential. But when the team needed focus the most, they seemed to short-circuit, missing chance after chance. From Anthony Martial blowing a one-on-one, to Jesse Lingard hitting the post with an open-net shot, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan failing to convert inside the box, United repeatedly wasted opportunities to kill the game off.
Even after Leicester’s Daniel Amartey was sent off with a second yellow, United couldn’t find the third goal. Then came the final blow: a cross from Marc Albrighton found Harry Maguire at the back post, completely unmarked. With United’s defenders caught napping, Maguire’s last-gasp finish ensured the match ended 2–2.
As BBC analysts pointed out post-match, United had more than enough chances to seal the victory but failed to finish the job — and they paid the price. It was déjà vu for José Mourinho’s side, who had also conceded a late goal in their midweek League Cup defeat to a Championship side. That loss saw United eliminated 1–2, and the same lack of urgency carried over into the weekend.
Crickex App notes that this wasn’t a case of bad luck — it was self-sabotage. With 19 rounds played, United now trail rivals Manchester City by a daunting 13 points. Any hope of a Premier League title challenge is fading fast, and the club may now have to focus on securing a Champions League spot instead.
Tactically, Mourinho shifted back to a four-man defense, with Victor Lindelöf replacing the injured Antonio Valencia at right back and Paul Pogba returning to the starting XI after suspension. In the first half, United controlled possession and created a slew of chances, but Leicester struck first through a quick counterattack — a long ball to Riyad Mahrez, who outran United’s defense to open the scoring.
What’s most concerning is that Mourinho’s squad, traditionally known for discipline and tenacity, now shows signs of complacency. In football, as the saying goes, “If you don’t take your chances, you’ll pay the price” — and United’s past week proves just that.
Whether it’s a lapse in mentality or tactical imbalance, Manchester United’s inability to close out games is costing them dearly — and if they don’t fix it fast, the gap between them and the top may become impossible to bridge.