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Why was the Ipswich game unique for United?
Thursday 27 February 2025 11:59
For the first time in Premier League history, two Manchester United centre-backs scored in the same game, as Ipswich Town were beaten 3-2 at Old Trafford on Wednesday night.
We may have had a number of defenders capable of finding the net, none more so than ex-skipper Steve Bruce, but it feels pretty remarkable to claim this was a new feat achieved in the division, thanks to the goals by Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire in the gritty win for the 10 men.
De Ligt pounced when Diogo Dalot’s shot was kept out by Alex Palmer, while Maguire expertly nodded home Bruno Fernandes’s right-wing corner in the second half to earn all three points.
Maguire scores the winner Video
Maguire scores the winner
MAGUIRE’S WINNER | Harry stepped up when we needed him to score the decisive goal v Ipswich…
After scouring the record books, we cannot find another instance of this happening since the league was formed in 1992.
It has occurred in other competitions, including the 6-0 victory over Tranmere Rovers in the Emirates FA Cup, back in January 2020. Maguire scored then, with a belting shot, and Phil Jones, one of three at the back in the formation on the day, was also on the mark.
There was a 5-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League, in 2013, when Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans netted but the former started at right-back.
Of course, searching into the old Division One, there will have been occasions when it did happen – including just after Christmas in 1983, during a 3-3 draw against Notts County at Old Trafford, both Gordon McQueen and Kevin Moran headed home from corners. This could well be the last time it happened in the league.
There are bound to be others in all competitions – Bruce and Gary Pallister both notched to help United to a 3-0 win over Wrexham in the home leg of the European Cup Winners’ Cup tie during the successful run in 1990/91.
David Sadler said he played “just in front of the defence”, when he and Bill Foulkes were on target in the famous 3-3 draw away to Real Madrid in the 1968 European Cup semi-final.
Our friends at Opta tell us this is the sixth time that two defenders have scored in the same Premier League match for the Reds.
The first time was in the inaugural campaign, 1992/93, as full-backs Denis Irwin and Paul Parker helped put Tottenham Hotspur to the sword.
Bizarrely, two of the instances came in the same season (2012/13), against the same opponents (Newcastle United), with the same scorers (Jonny Evans and Patrice Evra).
The last time two defenders were on the scoresheet for us in a league game was also against the Magpies, back in October 2020.
De Ligt’s first Old Trafford goal Video
De Ligt’s first Old Trafford goal
DE LIGT REACTS FIRST | Matthijs was on hand to turn home after Alex Palmer saved from Diogo Dalot…
TWO DEFENDERS SCORING IN SAME PREMIER LEAGUE GAME
9/1/93: Tottenham (H) 4-1 (Denis Irwin, Paul Parker)
4/1/94: Liverpool (A) 3-3 (Steve Bruce, Denis Irwin)
7/10/12: Newcastle (A) 3-0 (Jonny Evans, Patrice Evra)
26/12/12: Newcastle (H) 4-3 (Jonny Evans, Patrice Evra)
17/10/20: Newcastle (A) 4-1 (Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka)
26/2/25: Ipswich (H) 3-2 (Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire)
Courtesy of Opta.
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Thursday 27 February 2025 11:59
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