A 95th-minute penalty from captain Bruno Fernandes earned Manchester United a thrilling 3-2 victory over promoted Burnley in the Premier League yesterday.
Looking to quickly forget their humiliating League Cup exit at fourth-tier Grimsby, United started well in front of an expectant Old Trafford crowd, the dominant hosts taking a deserved lead through a Josh Cullen own goal in the 27th minute.
United’s wastefulness in front of goal proved costly, however, as Burnley levelled early in the second half through South African Lyle Foster, only for Bryan Mbeumo to restore the home side’s lead less than two minutes later.
Another goalkeeping error by Altay Bayindir allowed Jaidon Anthony to draw Burnley level in the 67th minute before Fernandes stepped up to convert from the spot after VAR had noticed a foul on Amad Diallo to save United’s blushes.
“It is three points, if you look at the game we should solve it in the first half but we’re fighting to the last minute because of things we over-complicate,” United manager Ruben Amorim said.
“Look at the first half, we have so many chances to score. You feel you can control the game. But one throw-in, one set piece. I shook my head, because sometimes football is like this.”
Even so early in the season, United were facing a mini-crisis ahead of Burnley’s visit, having failed to win either of their two opening league matches before the embarrassing loss to Grimsby.
Amorim said in his programme notes, totalling a meagre 95 words, that he was a manager not best pleased with how things are going less than a year into the job.
In last season’s campaign to forget, United’s home form was damaging.
Strong start
But the hosts, who had lost eight of their previous 13 league games at Old Trafford, started strongly against Burnley. New signing Mbeumo twice went close inside the first 15 minutes, before United were awarded a penalty for a foul on Mason Mount, only for VAR to overturn the decision.
The pressure paid off, however, when Casemiro’s header came back off the crossbar before going in off Cullen.
Amad should have made it two in first-half stoppage time, before substitute Joshua Zirkzee, who replaced the injured Matheus Cunha, missed another golden chance.
The nerves set in after the break, as Foster was left all alone from Jacob Bruun Larsen’s cross to level, only for Diogo Dalot to pick out Mbeumo, who netted his first league goal for United.
Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur were given a stark reality check by Bournemouth as a 1-0 home defeat tarnished manager Thomas Frank’s bright start to his reign in north London. In truth, Bournemouth were good value for their victory secured by Evanilson’s early deflected effort, and would have kicked themselves if they had not claimed three points.
Tottenham were thoroughly outplayed in all departments, and only keeper Guglielmo Vicario, profligate Bournemouth finishing, and the woodwork allowed them to stay in touch.
Fulham manager Marco Silva was furious after Joshua King’s goal was chalked off following a VAR check in their 2-0 loss at Chelsea.
The VAR ruled that Fulham forward Rodrigo Muniz had stepped on defender Trevoh Chalobah’s foot in the lead-up to the first-half strike at Stamford Bridge. “How you disallow a goal like that one is unbelievable. Unbelievable,” Silva told TNT Sports.
“We can talk about many things but I’d prefer to say nothing more, because I’ll be punished. And I don’t want to be on the bench in the next game. I don’t want to pay fines.”
Referee Robert Jones also consulted the VAR before awarding the penalty that led to Chelsea’s second goal in the second half, after the ball hit Ryan Sessegnon’s arm in the box. “Similar things, for the opposition [and] for us, they decide in a different way. All the decisions from the VAR, all the decisions from the referee made a massive impact in the game,” Silva said.
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