Casemiro strikes as Manchester United eye Champions League

BOURNEMOUTH: Casemiro's spectacular first-half goal proved decisive as Manchester United won 1-0 away to Bournemouth on Saturday (May 20) to move within sight of Champions League qualification.

Erik ten Hag's side would have been assured of a place among Europe's elite next season had Liverpool lost to Aston Villa but their arch-rivals came from behind to secure a 1-1 draw.

Even so United now need just one point from their remaining two Premier League games this season - with the London duo of Chelsea and Fulham visiting Old Trafford on Thursday and a week on Sunday respectively - to be assured of a Champions League place.

That would mean Ten Hag had achieved his key target in his first season in charge, with United having already won the League Cup ahead of next month's FA Cup final against local rivals Manchester City at Wembley.

Marcus Rashford missed out for three-times European champions United with an unspecified illness, the England forward having also been sidelined from last week's 2-0 win over Wolves due to a leg injury.

But despite his absence, United took just nine minutes to go ahead on the south coast.

Christian Eriksen's floated cross into the box was flicked into the path of Casemiro by defender Marcos Senesi before the Brazilian midfielder hooked in an acrobatic volley.

Dominic Solanke, however, could have equalised for Bournemouth but his low drive was well-saved by David de Gea.

Casemiro then tried to top his goal with a thumping drive from 35 yards that Neto did well to hold.

Solanke too went close when he headed just over the crossbar in the last action of the first half.

David Brooks, making his first start since being diagnosed with cancer in 2021, almost levelled after the interval only for De Gea to turn