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Leicester City gave it their all but it proved to be not enough on the evening as Manchester United eked out 3 points in a hard-fought contest at King Power Stadium. Bruno Fernandes converted from the spot in the 71st minute to give Manchester United the lead before Lingard stole the ball from Schmeichel's feet and put the game beyond doubt in the 98th minute.
With a spot in the Champions League up for grabs, Manchester United needed just a point to progress. However, Leicester City needed a win to confirm qualification. The Foxes put their noses to the grindstone but the Red Devils stepped up and prevented them from getting on the scorecard.
Chelsea won their game 2-0 against Wolves after two first-half stoppage time goals from Olivier Giroud and Mason Mount. United finishes 3rd on the Premier League table while Leicester will have to contend with the Europa League having finished 5th.
And so United have reached the promised land and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has brought UEFA Champions League back to Old Trafford.
Let's take a look at the 5 hits and flops from the game:
#5 Hit- Anthony Martial (Manchester United)
Anthony Martial has been exceptional for Manchester United post restart and he caused the Leicester backline a lot of problems with his movement. Though he wasn't at his best, he still looked hungry to get goalside and it was Martial who won Manchester United the penalty after expertly knocking the ball away from the converging Morgan and Evans.
Martial had a really good season and will be a bit disappointed that he couldn't outscore his striking partner Marcus Rashford but that is not a worry that United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is likely to share.
#4 Flop- Kasper Schmeichel (Leicester City)
Schmeichel didn't have a lot to do and was tidy between the sticks whenever called upon until a moment of madness gave Manchester United the surety they were seeking though some could say that it perhaps came too late to be consequential.
Despite that, Schmeichel had one last chance to force the ball into United's half to start a final attack. However, he tried to be too cheeky against an incoming Jesse Lingard who stole the ball from his feet and made it 2-0 for United in the 98th minute.
On a day when Leicester couldn't afford a lapse in concentration, Schmeichel did not exactly hold up.
#3 Hit- Nemanja Matic (Manchester United)
Nemanja Matic's experience couldn't have come in handy at a more ideal time for Manchester United. The Serb looked stoic in midfield and was good in progressing with the ball as well as he was in cutting out attacks and stopping Leicester City.
He was always on call to help cover at the back and ready to lend a helping hand in attack. The game was definitely won in midfield and one of the key reasons was Nemanja Matic as he helped compose the Manchester United ship with his performance.
#2 Flop- Jonny Evans (Leicester City)
It could have ended on a really sweet note for Evans had he been able to have an evening where he delivered a knockout blow to his former employers on the last day of the season. However, he had anything but that. Jonny Evans, in fact, had a nightmarish outing.
He was culpable for clattering into Anthony Martial to concede the penalty in the 70th minute, which Bruno Fernandes duly converted to give United the lead. Jonny Evans then got himself red-carded in the 94th minute of the game to cap off a terrible outing.
#1 Hit- Victor Lindelof (Manchester United)
Victor Lindelof hardly put a foot wrong in perhaps Manchester United's biggest game of the season. Constantly harried by the Leicester City duo of Jamie Vardy and Kelechi Iheanacho, the Swede held his ground and never gave either player enough space to work their magic.
Lindelof was good in the air, rising above the comparatively shorter strikers and kept up with Vardy's electric pace on a couple of occasions as well. Solskjaer will want more of the same from the Swede.
