Topsy turvy sees reds share the spoils with Cherries
Manchester United dropped more points at home as they were involved in a crazy rollercoaster game on Monday. Leading at half-time, they found themselves behind with two goals in six minutes. They charged back to lead again but ultimately had to settle for a point.
Having won at Old Trafford for the past two seasons, the visitors were looking to repeat the feat. They were fortunate to not be further behind at half-time before exploiting errors at the back to take the lead. They could even have claimed a win at the very end too.
Ruben Amorim made just one change from the win over Wolves. Noussair Mazraoui has been called up by Morocco to play in AFCON. Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo are due to join their respective sides after the game. Leny Yoro came back into the side. Benjamin Sesko came back into the matchday squad after recent injury. Andoni Iraola also made just one change. Tyler Adams replaced Alex Scott in midfield.
The home side were at it from the very start. Bournemouth escaped a penalty shout after a shot from Bruno Fernandes hit the hand of a defender. It was adjudged to have been an acident. From the resulting corner, Mattheus Cunha had an effort deflected wide before Djordje Petrovic had to get down to palm away a snap shot by Mason Mount from a Bryan Mbeumo cross.
The pressure was telling and the first goal arrived on 13 minutes. Casemiro spread the ball wide to Diogo Dalot who floated a cross into the centre to Cunha. The Brazilian may have gotten a slight touch to move it away from Petrovic. It fell down to provide a simple tap in for Diallo from about a yard to sign off on before AFCON.
It appeared that the home side were employing a version of a back four with Dalot pushed on and they continued to buzz around their opponents. Casemiro again fed Dalot out wide who drifted in to find Mbeumo. His shot was on target but failed to have the power to beat Petrovic.
Bournemouth began to rouse themselves and did have chances via Justin Kluivert and Francisco Evanilson but Utd seemed more likely to stretch the lead thanks to the promptings of Cunha. His ball through the middle found Diallo who has denied a second from a block by Adam Smith. His raking cross to the back post was met on the volley by Mbeumo. The Cameroon forward was unable to keep it down though.
It was therefore a surprise when the visitors dew themselves level on 40 minutes. Luke Shaw lost posession out on the left touchline and Smith played it into the path of Antoine Semenyo. With no support, he surged forward and slotted into the bottom corner despite Mount trying to intercept him. It was the seventh goal of the season for the in-demand winger. He was lucky to have escaped worse than a yellow card after appearing to raise his hand to Dalot after a coming together.
United came back though and led again before the break. Casemiro was denied initially from a header via a Fernandes free kick. The resulting corner was swung toward the back post where the former Real legend had peeled off his marker to nod it home.
Almost immediately into the second-half, Bournemouth were level again. Dalot appeared to have gone down but there was far too much space afforded to Marcus Tavernier in midfield. His throughball found Evanilson who rifled past Senne Lammens for his first goal since August. Tavernier was then at it a few moments later. He picked the ball off Fernandes and embarked on run through the middle before being taken down by Casemiro. He got up to smash home the resulting free kick. Lammens could probably have done better with it but there was a hole in the wall in front of him.
United heads could have dropped but they kept trying to get back into the game. Mbeumo snatched at a shot after it rebounded to him, Cunha saw an effort palmed away from Petrovic, and then Marcos Senesi did well to intercept a pass intended for Benjamin Sesko.
Whenever Fernandes is on the pitch there is always a chance for the reds. His cross was handled by Smith just outside the area with about 15 minutes left. From the left side of the pitch, he hit a piledriver into the very top right corner of the net that Petrovic had no chance of saving.
The comeback seemed to be complete two minutes later. Utd were aggressive in winning the ball high up the pitch and came forward with both Mbeumo and Sesko. The latter crossed into the area that was initially intercepted by Adrien Truffert. He stumbled though and it fell to Cunha to have a touch and drill it home.
That should have been the winner but Bournemouth responded again within five minutes. Again there were given far too much room in midfield to allow Alejandro Jimenez pass into substitute Eli Junior Kroupi. Despite pressure, he got away his shot to draw the sides level again. They might have snatched victory in the closing stages via Alex Scott but Lammens produced excellent saves on both occasions.
It was hard to know which one of the sides was the happier at the fina whistle given the squence of events. United could and should have been well clear by half-time but Bournemouth could have easily claimed the win in the second period. United have a tough game on Sunday when they travel to take on high flying Aston Villa at 16:30. Bournemouth take on struggling Burnley at home on Saturday.
Manchester United: Senne Lammens, Leny Yoro (Lisandro Martinez 68), Ayden Heaven, Luke Shaw (Patrick Dorgu 90+3), Amad Diallo, Casemiro (Kobee Mainoo 61), Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Dalot, Bryan Mbeumo (Joshua Zirkzee 90+3), Mattheus Cunha, Mason Mount (Benjamin Sesko 68).
Subs not used: Altay Bayinder, Tyrell Malacia, , Manuel Ugarte, Tyler Fredricson.
Booked: Diogo Dalot (43), Casemiro (52)
Sent off: None
Bournemouth: Djordje Petrovic, Adam Smith, Bafode Diakite, Marcos Sensei, Adrien Truffet, Marcus Tavernier (David Brooks 90), Tyler Adams (Alex Scott 10), Alejandro Jimenez, Justin Kluivert (James Hill 90), Antoine Semenyo, Francisco Evanilson (Eli Junior Kroupi 78).
Subs not used: William Dennis, Julian Araujo, Julio Soler, , , Amine Adli, , , Enes Unal.
Booked: Antoine Semenyo (43), Adam Smith (77), Marcos Sensei (77)
Sent off: None
Referee:
Attendance:
Simply Red Man of the Match:
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