Bruno Fernandes double salvages fortunate point for Man Utd against Bournemouth
Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes celebrates scoring his side's second goal against Bournemouth. Picture: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire.
Manchester United have made a habit of late drama in recent weeks and on this occasion an intervention by VAR to overturn an added time penalty decision went in their favour as they salvaged a fortunate point thanks to Bruno Fernandes who twice brought his side level.
The late flashpoint came in the 95th minute of added time when Bournemouth midfielder Ryan Christie was brought down by Willy Kambwala. Referee Tony Harrington awarded a penalty but VAR adjudged the offence occurred just outside the box. It was a desperately close call, and one Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola thought was wrong, but United survived the resulting free-kick to ensure the game ended in stalemate.
Bournemouth had twice taken the lead, through Dominic Solanke and Justin Kluivert, and twice United levelled through Fernandes, the second time from the penalty spot. But it was the home side who were the more convincing as they challenge for a top half finish while United now lie in seventh place after managing just one win in their last six league games.
Bruno Fernandes side twice equalised as Manchester United salvaged a point in a game that highlighted the flaws that have undermined their campaign and demonstrated the progress made by Bournemouth under Iraola.
Ten Hag had bemoaned United’s bad luck this season ahead of the game, citing a number of decisions that have gone against his side in recent weeks. On this occasion it certainly wasn’t luck that contributed to the visitors trailing at half-time. If anything, fortune was on their side as they somehow managed to restrict Bournemouth to a one-goal lead.
United’s defensive failings were exposed by Solanke’s opening goal and they got worse. Alejandro Garnacho was guilty of a poor first touch by the halfway line, allowing Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi to play a first time ball towards Solanke whose turn just outside the United box wrong-footed Willy Kambwala, sending the defender to the ground. Gifted time and space, Solanke opted to shoot early, beating Andre Onana with a lose shot to give Iraola’s side a 16th minute lead with his 17th Premier League goal of the season.
It could have been worse for Ten Hag’s side when United full-back Diogo Dalot backed off Luis Sinisterra and the Bournemouth winger was inches away from doubling the lead. And having escaped on that occasion, the visitors managed to work their way back on level terms in the 31st minute.
Kambwala’s robust challenge on Solanke prompted Bournemouth complaints but went unpunished and launched a United attack that ended with Fernandes volleying home from close range after Garnacho’s cross was deflected.
However, the goal proved to be a rare positive moment for Ten Hag’s team who were almost immediately undone when Dango Ouattara mimicked Sinisterra’s earlier effort. Moments later Kluivert was more precise in his finish after being allowed way too much space between Dalot and Kambwala as he collected another telling pass from Senesi.
United’s defening was shambolic and showed no signs of improvement when Milos Kerkez headed against the bar while it took a superb one-handed save from Onana to deny an unimpeded Kluivert a second goal.
Ten Hag responded by replacing Garnacho with Amad Diallo at half-time but there was no noticeable change in his side’s performance levels. Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Kambwala both produced timely interventions to protect Onana’s goal before United were given the chance to equalise for the second time when Kobbie Mainoo’s shot deflected off Ryan Christie and struck Adam Smith’s arm. Fernandes converted the 65th minute penalty and once again saved his side.
Neto 6; Smith 6 (Aarons 70, 6), Zabarnyi 6, Senesi 7, Kerkez 7; Cook 7, Christie 9; Outtara 6 (Faivre, 70, 6), Kluivert 8 (Unal 76, 6), Sinisterra 6 (Kelly 39, 6); Solanke 8.
Subs not used: Travers, Scott, Hill, Billing, Gonzalez.
Onana 6; Dalot 5, Kambwala 5, Maguire 6, Wan-Bissaka 6; Casemiro 6, Mainoo 5 (Mount 78, 6); Garnacho 5 (Diallo 46, 6), Fernandes 8, Rashford 5; Hojlund 5.
Subs not used: Bayindir, Amrabat, Eriksen, Forson, Amass, Ogunneye, Wheatley.
Tony Harrington (6)
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