Brentford 1-1 Manchester United: Ajer grabs late equaliser for Bees to dent Red Devils Champions League qualification hopes

Manchester United were held to a 1-1 draw at Brentford on Saturday, with Kristoffer Ajer's 99th-minute equaliser denting the visitors' chances of qualifying for next season's Champions League.

Substitute Mason Mount thought he had given United an undeserved and dramatic victory when he scored in the 96th minute, after Brentford had dominated the game.

However, three minutes later, Ajer smashed home Ivan Toney's cut-back from close range, denying United victory and leaving them in sixth place, 11 points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa.

They are also eight points behind Tottenham Hotspur in fifth place, which could be enough for Champions League football next season. Villa have played one more game than Spurs and United.

"There are still many games to go," United's disappointed manager Erik ten Hag told reporters when asked if his team could still qualify for Europe's elite club competition.

Ten Hag accepted United's second-best performance at Brentford but lamented his players' inability to "bring it over the line" after taking a last-gasp lead.

"We didn't deserve to win but if you are winning you have to take this," the Dutchman said.

Brentford remain in 15th place, five points above the relegation zone, but they deserved so much more.

The Bees were far superior in the first half, hitting the woodwork twice through Toney and Mathias Jorgensen and creating a slew of other opportunities but failing to score.

United improved slightly after the break, and Rasmus Hojland was denied a goal in his seventh consecutive league game by keeper Mark Flekken's strong hand.

Brentford continued to create opportunities, with Toney having a goal disallowed for offside and Bryan Mbeumo volleying against the bar but failing to capitalise.

The game was still scoreless in additional time when substitute Casemiro found Mount, who fired past Flekken for his first United goal.

Brentford manager Thomas Frank stood stunned on the sidelines, wryly smiling, after United appeared to have won the game at the death.

"I was almost losing my faith in the big football god when they scored," he told reporters. "How can that happen ... how can you explain that you lose a game that you are that dominant in?"

Brentford did, however, get the equaliser their performance deserved when Norway defender Ajer finished with a striker's touch to ensure the hosts took something away from the game.

Frank praised his players' character to recover, saying: "When you are this dominant and you then concede a late goal and then have the ability to come back, I don't know how to explain that, that's just incredible."

SportsLigue