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Reuters
Reuters
Sport

United hit Watford with devastating one-two

Soccer Football - Premier League - Watford v Manchester United - Vicarage Road, Watford, Britain - September 15, 2018 Manchester United's Chris Smalling celebrates scoring their second goal REUTERS/David Klein

WATFORD 1 MANCHESTER UNITED 2

Two goals in a devastating three-minute burst from Manchester United set up a 2-1 win over Watford at Vicarage Road, ending the home side's perfect start to the season.

United, who had Nemanja Matic sent off for a second bookable offence in injury time, had an early effort from Alexis Sanchez disallowed for offside but soon took command via a scrappy 35th-minute effort from Romelu Lukaku and a superb left-foot volley from Chris Smalling three minutes later.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Watford v Manchester United - Vicarage Road, Watford, Britain - September 15, 2018 Manchester United's David de Gea makes a save Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge

Smalling took Marouane Fellaini's knockdown on his chest, swivelled and fired a superb left-foot volley past a bemused Ben Foster, who then saved well from Paul Pogba as United threatened to overrun the home side.

A fierce shot from Andre Gray on 65 minutes, following Abdoulaye Doucoure's cut-back, ignited the second half but United held on with David de Gea saving impressively from Christian Kabasele's header in the final seconds.

Despite the victory, United will be disappointed they allowed Watford back into a match that appeared won when Smalling's goal went in.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Watford v Manchester United - Vicarage Road, Watford, Britain - September 15, 2018 Manchester United's Romelu Lukaku scores their first goal REUTERS/David Klein

"Credit to Watford," said Lukaku. "We were too sloppy but it's another win and we have to keep going. We had to try and score a third but we were sloppy, we have to look again at the images."

United manager Jose Mourinho paid tribute to Lukaku.

"I think this last Romelu Lukaku tackle as a right back shows everything. I think he is the image of the team, a team that played very well in long periods in the first half."

Soccer Football - Premier League - Watford v Manchester United - Vicarage Road, Watford, Britain - September 15, 2018 Manchester United's Chris Smalling scores their second goal REUTERS/David Klein

(Reporting by Neil Robinson, editing by Pritha Sarkar)

Soccer Football - Premier League - Watford v Manchester United - Vicarage Road, Watford, Britain - September 15, 2018 Manchester United's Chris Smalling scores their second goal REUTERS/David Klein
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