For a fraction of a second, he slid his foot underneath it and lifted the ball over Casemiro's approaching challenge.
The midfielder stepped in to close the space, but Leo had already taken the ball past him.
He moved around Casemiro's shoulder, landed on the other side, and brought the ball down into his stride.
"Calderon gets it! Casemiro comes across—"
Bower's commentary faltered as Leo planted his left foot beside the ball and leaned sharply to his left.
The pass the United players had been expecting never came, leaving them bare, but Mainoo reacted immediately.
He braked, changed direction, and launched himself towards the space Leo appeared to be opening.
But Leo had only needed him to move.
A tiny touch sent the ball past Mainoo's left side but towards the midfielder's right.
It was so slight that it barely looked like a change of direction.
Mainoo's momentum carried him forward, and Leo slipped around him before the young midfielder could turn.
