Rasmus Hojlund finally scored his first Premier League goal as Manchester United came from two down to beat Aston Villa 3-2 in a thriller at Old Trafford.
First-half goals from John McGinn and Leander Dendoncker had seemingly put Unai Emery's in-form side in full control and Erik ten Hag's team were booed off at the break. But two goals from Alejandro Garnacho changed the mood before Hojlund won it.
The £72m summer signing has had to wait until his 15th Premier League appearance for this goal, coming in the first game since Sir Jim Ratcliffe purchased a 25 per cent stake in United which gives his INEOS company control of football operations.
What a start, the landmark victory celebrated wildly at the final whistle. The three points lift Manchester United up to sixth in the Premier League table, while Aston Villa stay third, missing the chance to move level on points with leaders Liverpool.
How Man Utd turned it around
Villa passed the ball around with confidence at the start but United had some success winning the ball high up the pitch. The problems came when Villa played through and found space in wide areas. Still, it was two set-pieces that were the difference in the first half.
McGinn's free-kick from out near the right touchline brought the opener. Leon Bailey took up a position near the line which may have distracted Andre Onana but it was no excuse for the Manchester United goalkeeper to allow the ball creep beyond him at the far post.
The corner that led to Villa's second goal featured more abject defending. Clement Lenglet was allowed to spin free at the back post to latch onto McGinn's cross and Dendoncker was unmarked in the middle to cleverly divert the ball into the net on the volley.
It was the second time this season that United have been two down in a Premier League home game inside 26 minutes, having also been in that situation against Nottingham Forest. It is as many times as that happened to them in the previous 31 seasons combined.
But United did win that game against Forest, just as they would go on to win this one. They had to be more patient here because time and again the offside flag went up as Villa's trap caught out the United runners. It was a theme of the night.
There were six offside decisions against Manchester United in the first half alone, another record for the Premier League season. It was frustrating for the players and frustrating for the home support who greeted the half-time whistle with boos.
Those feelings were briefly exacerbated in the second half when Rashford did break the trap and fed Garnacho who rounded Martinez and put the ball into the net - only to see the goal ruled out following a VAR check. Garnacho was offside - but not the next time.
A poor pass by Diego Carlos was intercepted and Rashford was away again down the left, this time finding Garnacho at the far post. The atmosphere changed completely, United's near nine-hour wait for a goal in all competitions finally coming to an end.
Garnacho had yet another chance after robbing Alex Moreno and firing wide in search of an equaliser. Hojlund wanted a penalty but that offside flag was his enemy once more. But it was stirring stuff from the home side and Garnacho had his reward with a second.
The teenage winger cut inside on his left foot to beat Martinez this time and the momentum belonged to Ten Hag's team at that point. Emery urged calm and Villa did have chances when they could beat the press. McGinn's shot was blocked by Jonny Evans.
But Hojlund's big moment came when Antony, immediately after coming on as a substitute, dispossessed Lenglet near his own goal and won a corner. When the ball came in, Hojlund's instinctive volley found the inside of the post and brought the roof off Old Trafford.
The Dane has had to wait until the day after Christmas for his first Premier League goal and how sweet it must have felt. Its importance to his manager, to his football club, could hardly be overstated. In a turgid season, a performance to remember, a moment to remember.
Skysports