Matheus Cunha celebrates scoring Manchester United’s fourth goal
Manchester United and Bournemouth produced a Premier League classic at Old Trafford as both sides led and had to come from behind before settling for a point from an eight-goal thriller.
United’s 2-1 half-time lead evaporated within seven minutes of the restart as Evanilson and Marcus Tavernier struck.
But Bruno Fernandes’ free-kick and Matheus Cunha’s effort within two minutes of each other turned the contest on its head a second time, only for 19-year-old Eli Junior Kroupi to drive home an equaliser six minutes from time to earn Bournemouth a point from a breathless game.
Amid the chaos, it was almost forgotten that Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim had tweaked his favoured five-man defence and been rewarded for pushing Amad Diallo into a more advanced position with the Ivorian heading home from close range after 13 minutes.
The goal came after United had hit the visitors with a blistering start – six shots in the opening 10 minutes being their most so quickly in a Premier League game since October 2022.
As it turned out, it was the prelude to a remarkable contest.
Between them, the two sides had 38 shots. Casemiro picked up a booking that rules him out of Sunday’s trip to Aston Villa. The last significant threats on goal were two stoppage-time efforts from David Brooks that needed reaction saves from Senne Lammens to prevent Bournemouth from clinching victory.
The result cost United a top-five spot, while 13th-placed Bournemouth have now gone seven games without a win.
Man Utd analysis: Formation change from Amorim
Rarely can any formation have been debated quite as much as Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system.
The former Sporting manager has continually defended the system that brought him such success in Portugal. At one point, he even declared the Pope could not persuade him to change it.
Lately, though, Amorim’s words have softened to a claim he would change if he felt it was the right thing to do.
This was the night.
It was not ‘throw the baby out with the bathwater’ stuff until the final 20 minutes, when Lisandro Martinez came on, and Diogo Dalot went to right-back.
But initially, Amad did not track back as often, and when he did, the Ivory Coast man, who, like Bryan Mbeumo, but not Noussair Mazraoui, was allowed to play so soon before the Africa Cup of Nations, tucked inside Leny Yoro rather than out.
He marked the occasion with a headed goal from close range, and when Casemiro’s tame effort was pushed into his own net by Djordje Petrovic, the home fans responded with a reception at the end of the half as enthusiastic as any at this ground this season.
Little did they know what was to follow.
Bournemouth analysis: Cherries have last word
Bournemouth won 3-0 on their past two visits to Old Trafford.
In all probability, if Cherries’ boss Andoni Iraola had been offered another three goals, he would have taken them, assuming it would be the pathway to another victory and the end of his side’s winless streak.
There was something too easy about how they seized the initiative.
Dalot was lying on the ground clutching his mouth after a collision when Tavernier played a superb pass through to Evanilson for the Brazilian to equalise.
Tavernier then exploited some weak goalkeeping from Lammens to put Bournemouth in front.
United had already profited from some poor keeping by Petrovic when the former Chelsea man palmed Casemiro’s tame first-half header into his goal. Petrovic could do nothing to prevent Bruno Fernandes following Tavernier’s lead by curling his own free-kick home for the equaliser.
With the home fans baying for more, Cunha provided it with a calm finish.
It seemed certain to be the winner – but Bournemouth were not done.
Kroupi’s final flourish ensured they exceeded their previous scoring efforts here, but without gaining the same reward.
It led to a mixture of relief and frustration for both sides at the final whistle as players fell to their knees in exhaustion.
What’s next for these teams?
Manchester United’s next Premier League game is at Aston Villa on Sunday, 21 December (16:30 GMT).
Bournemouth are next in action at home to Burnley on Saturday, 20 December (15:00).
