Manchester United and Bournemouth played out a dramatic Premier League draw at Old Trafford, with both teams repeatedly overturning deficits before the match ended level after an extraordinary eight-goal encounter.
Manchester United and Bournemouth played out a dramatic Premier League draw at Old Trafford, with both teams repeatedly overturning deficits before the match ended level after an extraordinary eight-goal encounter.
United went into the break ahead at 2-1, yet that advantage disappeared almost immediately after halftime. Evanilson found the net before Marcus Tavernier followed up soon after, swinging momentum firmly in Bournemouth’s favor.
The hosts responded swiftly. A Bruno Fernandes free kick brought parity, and moments later Matheus Cunha struck to restore United’s lead. However, the final twist arrived six minutes from the end when 19-year-old Eli Junior Kroupi powered home an equalizer to secure a point for the visitors.
By full-time, the match had produced relentless action, with 38 attempts on goal between the sides, underlining the frantic nature of the evening.
Amid the chaos, Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim made a notable adjustment to his usual defensive structure. His decision to alter the familiar back-five approach proved effective in the opening stages.
Amad Diallo was pushed higher up the pitch and capitalized after 13 minutes, heading in from close range. The goal capped a ferocious start by United, who registered six shots inside the first 10 minutes — their quickest such burst in a league match since October 2022.
The pressure continued, and Casemiro’s first-half header was inadvertently turned into his own goal by goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic, prompting an enthusiastic response from the home supporters at the interval.
Yet the promising platform would not be enough to secure victory.
The visitors, who had won 3-0 on their previous two trips to Old Trafford, again showed they could trouble United. They seized control early in the second half, helped by a precise Tavernier pass that released Evanilson to score.
Tavernier then added another, taking advantage of uncertain goalkeeping from Senne Lammens. United, however, benefited earlier from similar errors at the opposite end, with Petrovic unable to recover after Fernandes curled in a free kick.
Cunha’s composed finish appeared decisive, but Bournemouth refused to yield. Kroupi’s late strike ensured the Cherries left with a draw, extending their winless run to seven matches.
In stoppage time, David Brooks nearly snatched victory for Bournemouth, only for Lammens to produce two sharp saves. Casemiro, meanwhile, received a booking that rules him out of Sunday’s visit to Aston Villa.
The result pushed United out of the top five, while both teams were left exhausted, reflecting the intensity of a remarkable contest.
