Benjamin Sesko emerged from the bench once more to prove decisive, as his solitary goal secured a 1–0 victory for Manchester United over Everton on Monday night, consolidating the Red Devils’ position in fourth place in the Premier League.
Under the interim guidance of Michael Carrick, United maintained their unbeaten run, claiming their sixth consecutive league match without defeat under the temporary manager.
The decisive moment arrived in the 71st minute at Goodison Park. United launched a swift counterattack from their own half, with Sesko exchanging passes with teammate Mateus Cunha before receiving the ball from Bryan Mbeumo. The Slovenian striker made no mistake with his first touch, slotting the ball past Jordan Pickford to break the deadlock.
This marked Sesko’s eighth goal of the season. He had also scored a crucial added-time goal against West Ham in the previous fixture, earning a vital point for his side. Remarkably, the young forward has found the net in each of his last two appearances as a substitute.
Match Overview
| Statistic | Manchester United | Everton |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 62% | 38% |
| Shots on Target | 5 | 2 |
| Total Shots | 12 | 6 |
| Goals | 1 | 0 |
| Saves | 2 | 4 |
| Fouls | 10 | 13 |
United dominated possession in the first half but struggled to carve out clear-cut chances. Amad Diallo’s powerful strike appeared destined for the net but was cleared off the line by James Tarkowski. Efforts from Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes also failed to trouble Pickford significantly.
Everton grew more assertive after the break, with Harrison Armstrong testing the United goalkeeper with a tame shot that was comfortably saved.
Sesko replaced Diallo in the 58th minute and required only 13 minutes to determine the outcome, demonstrating his growing influence as an impact substitute. Later, Everton’s Michael Keane attempted a long-range effort from around 25 yards, only to see his shot sail over the crossbar past United keeper Sean Lammens.
With the win, United now sit on 48 points from 27 games, three points behind third-placed Aston Villa. Everton remain in ninth, with 37 points from an equal number of matches.
Carrick’s interim tenure has so far produced five wins from six matches, underlining the team’s resilience and tactical cohesion. Sesko’s back-to-back substitute goals have not only lifted the team but also highlighted his potential as a decisive talent for United’s attacking line-up in the closing stages of the season.