Ethan Pinnock scored for Brentford, but they ultimately lost 2-1 to Manchester United in the Premier League. Pinnock’s powerful header put Brentford ahead just before halftime, but United responded strongly in the second half with goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Højlund.
Brentford, unchanged from their previous match where they defeated Wolves 5-3, began the game with some promising chances. Keane Lewis-Potter and Vitaly Janelt worked well together, and a dangerous cross from Janelt was just intercepted by Jonny Evans as Kevin Schade lurked nearby. Bryan Mbeumo also had an opportunity after Kristoffer Ajer’s pass but missed the target with a shot from outside the box.
Midway through the first half, the Brentford defense faced some tense moments when a corner from Christian Eriksen was nearly converted by Martínez after a mishap from goalkeeper Mark Flekken, who quickly recovered to keep the ball out. Flekken was then called into action again, saving a powerful shot from Garnacho.
Christian Nørgaard tested Onana from distance with a powerful strike, and although Eriksen had a close-range chance, the referee had already halted play for a foul on Nathan Collins. United pressed for openings but struggled to find the net until the end of the first half when Pinnock scored from a well-timed header on a corner kick, giving Brentford a 1-0 lead as the teams went into halftime.
After the break, United came out aggressively. Just moments into the second half, Rashford delivered a cross that Garnacho converted with a well-placed finish, leveling the game at 1-1. United kept up the pressure, and Højlund then put them ahead, finishing a clever through ball from Fernandes.
Brentford looked to respond but missed a few critical chances. Substitute Yehor Yarmoliuk fired over after a quick counterattack, and Fábio Carvalho’s shot was also wide. Despite their efforts, Brentford could not equalize, suffering defeat at Old Trafford.
Post-match, Brentford manager Thomas Frank expressed disappointment with his team’s second-half performance, stating he expected more from his players after a strong first half. Meanwhile, midfielder Mikkel Damsgaard criticized the team’s loss of intensity after halftime but praised Pinnock for his impactful goal.