Eight-goal madness at Old Trafford as Manchester United and Bournemouth draw
Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes celebrates scoring his side's third goal against Bournemoth. Pic: Martin Rickett/PA Wire
CHRISTMAS came early at Old Trafford with both sides taking on the role of Secret Santas to bear a glut of gifts in a crazy contest which almost defied description.
Late strikes in the space of two minutes from Bruno Fernandes and Matheus Cunha looked to have capped a rollercoaster night with victory for the hosts. Bournemouth substitute Junior Kroupi had other ideas, calmly slotting home the eighth and final goal of a breathless contest six minutes from time.
Antoine Semenyo and Evanilson chose apt times to end lengthy goal droughts as Bournemouth came from behind to lead by the odd goal in five to leave the hosts in grave danger of losing at home after leading at the break for the first time since 1984.
United went from looking like they were ready to hand out a second straight Monday night mauling to a side in danger of being sunk under a deluge of goals as Ruben Amorim's dabble with a 'fluid' back three or four depending on your interpretation proved unconvincing in the extreme.
It really ought to have been a routine victory for United - who should have been out of sight by half-time. The visitors were cut open by a flowing counter-attack as Bruno Fernandes had penalty appeals turned down when claiming his shot was blocked by a Bournemouth hand as he looked to round-off a move he had started with a delicious dummy.
Djordje Petrovic had to be alert to make a smart save at his near post from Mason Mount's first-time effort but the incessant pressure finally told when the hosts took a deserved 13th minute lead.
Cunha caused confusion in the Bournemouth area as he jumped in an attempt to reach a searching Diogo Dalot centre. When Petrovic could only knock the ball down, it bounced up invitingly for Amad Diallo to head into an empty net from a yard.
Bournemouth had few answers in how to prevent their hosts from attacking seemingly at will. Cunha should have doubled the advantage, but curled an effort narrowly wide from the edge of the area.
Despite the one-sided nature of the contest, Bournemouth missed a golden opportunity to level when Marcus Tavernier timed his run into the area to perfection to meet Justin Kluivert's cross, but the midfielder planted his header straight at Senne Lammens.
It was a brief respite. Diallo was denied a second by a fine sliding challenge from Adam Smith before a stretching Bryan Mbeumo volleyed inches over from Matheus Cunha's pin-point cross from the right.
The fragility of a single-goal lead was highlighted five minutes before the interval as, implausibly given what had gone before, Bournemouth equalised.
Luke Shaw was easily shoved off the ball by Kluivert, allowing Smith to release Semenyo into the area. The Ivory Coast forward still had plenty to do, but confidently beat Lammens with a clinical angled drive which found the net off the foot of a post to end a seven game wait for a goal with his seventh of the season.
Dalot and Semenyo were both cautioned for a needless spat after an untidy aerial challenge between the pair, and there was still time for United to restore their lead deep into stoppage time with the softest of goals which Petrovic won't be keen to see again.
From a Fernandes corner, Casemiro peeled off at the back post to send a downward header straight towards the Bournemouth keeper who somehow failed to stop on its way into the net.
On a rollercoaster night, Bournemouth took the lead within seven minutes of the restart. Just 40 seconds into the second half, Evanilson sprinted onto Tavernier's defence-splitting pass to find the bottom corner with his second goal of the season and first since August.
It got worse for United shortly after, when after being fouled by Casemiro, Tavernier picked himself up to thread a low 20-yard free-kick into the bottom corner past a leaden-footed Lammens.
Bryan Mbeumo blazed over on the turn before Fernandes levelled with a stunning 20-yard free-kick into the top corner with 13 minutes left. Just two minutes later Cunha restored United's lead, pouncing on Adrien Truffert's error from Benjamin Sesko's cross to sweep the ball beyond Petrovic.
With six minutes left, Bournemouth levelled again, Kroupi with a composed touch and finish for the young striker's fifth goal of the season. David Brooks almost won it deep into stoppage-time for the Cherries, but his header was kept out by Lammens' legs.
Lammens 6; Yoro 4 (Martinez 69, 5), Heaven 5, Shaw 4 (Dorgu 90, 6); Amad 5, Casemiro 6 (Mainoo 61, 6), Fernandes 7, Dalot 6; Mbeumo 7 (Zirkzee 90,6), Mount 6 (Sesko 69, 6); Cunha 8. Booked: Dalot, Casemiro.
Petrovic 3; Smith 7, Diakite 5, Senesi 5, Truffert 5; Tavernier 9 (Brooks 90, 6), Adams 4 (Scott 5, 7); Jimenez 7, Kluivert 8 (Hill 90, 6), Semenyo 7; Evanilson 7 (Kroupi 78, 8). Booked: Semenyo, Senesi, Smith.
Simon Hooper
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