Manchester United FC secured a top-three finish in the Premier League after edging past Nottingham Forest FC 3-2 at Old Trafford in a thrilling encounter overshadowed by a controversial VAR decision.
With UEFA Champions League football already guaranteed, much of the pre-match attention centred around Casemiro, who was making what is expected to be his final appearance at Old Trafford for the Red Devils.
A three-point Sunday at Old Trafford! ✅
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 17, 2026
United made the perfect start and opened the scoring inside five minutes. A partially cleared cross from Bruno Fernandes dropped kindly for Luke Shaw, who controlled superbly before firing a precise half volley into the bottom corner for his first goal since January 2023.
Forest responded positively and should have levelled midway through the first half when Morgan Gibbs-White broke through on goal, only for Senne Lammens to produce a crucial save.
United nearly doubled their advantage moments later as Bryan Mbeumo rounded Matz Sels before striking the post, while Casemiro volleyed narrowly wide from the rebound phase.
The visitors eventually found their equaliser shortly after the restart. A cleverly worked short corner ended with Elliot Anderson delivering a pinpoint cross for Morato, who headed home his first goal for Forest.
However, the game’s defining moment arrived almost immediately afterwards.
United restored their lead through Matheus Cunha after Mbeumo’s effort ricocheted into his path, but Forest furiously protested for handball in the build-up. Replays appeared to show the ball brushing Mbeumo’s arm before the assist.
VAR reviewed the incident, and referee Michael Salisbury was sent to the monitor. Yet, in a rare move, he decided to stick with his original decision and award the goal, sparking frustration among the Forest players and bench.
Fernandes later etched his name into Premier League history when he provided his 20th assist of the season with a brilliant pass across goal for Mbeumo to convert and make it 3-1. The Portuguese international joins only Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne as the only players to register 20 assists in a single Premier League campaign.
Forest refused to surrender, and Gibbs-White pulled one back with a composed finish from Anderson’s cross to set up a tense finale.
United still had opportunities to extend their lead late on, with Diogo Dalot striking the post before Joshua Zirkzee forced another excellent save from Sels in stoppage time.
The victory completes a remarkable turnaround under Michael Carrick, whose side finish the season in third place after a dramatic revival in form. Reports in England suggest the achievement is expected to secure Carrick the managerial role permanently.
For Nottingham Forest, defeat carries little consequence with Premier League safety already secured, but the controversial VAR decision is likely to dominate post-match discussion.
