Bournemouth 2-2 Manchester United: Cherries twice come from behind to equalize as United race for points with 10 men after Harry Maguire’s sending off.
Harry Maguire was sent off for refusing a scoring opportunity (Image: Warren Little/Getty Images)
Harry Maguire was sent off as Manchester United were held to a draw in a drama-filled second half with Bournemouth. On the south coast, referee Stuart Attwell took center stage as both teams converted penalties and the Cherries secured their fifth successive Premier League draw.
After Amad stung the palm of Djordje Petrovic, Bournemouth darted past Marcus Tavernier to the other end, threatening a counter-attack. Senne Lamence was forced to push Rayan’s powerful shot wide of the target.
Bruno Fernandes should have put United ahead with a cross from Diogo Dalot at the back post, but his volley was blocked by Petrovic’s legs. However, after Alex Jimenez pulled back Matheus Cunha, the United captain seized his chance from the penalty spot and confidently converted it.
The match then became lively, with Ryan Christie scoring the bottom corner with a precise finish after Amad was denied a penalty for a similar shirt-pulling. A corner kick was deflected by Marcos Senesi and the visitors were back in front, with Maguire’s famous header narrowly missing and hitting James Hill to make it 2-1.
Bournemouth hit back and Maguire was shown a straight red card for clumsily barging into Evanison after Alex Scott rattled the bar. Junior Crupi converted the spot-kick to make it 2-2, but United held on with relative ease during nine minutes of stoppage time to secure a point. Here’s the talking point.
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1. Sesco Bench
Eyebrows were raised among some United fans after Michael Carrick left Benjamin Sesco on the south coast bench. Sesco has scored eight goals in his last 10 games for United, and his haul of goals has recently earned him a place in the starting XI.
But Carrick likes the fluidity provided by Brian Mbeumo as an absent No.9 and the threat of Amad on the right, meaning Sesco is at a loss in the first half. One couldn’t help but wonder if the Slovenian had taken one of United’s missed chances in the first 45 minutes.
Michael Carrick left Benjamin Sesco on the bench (Image: Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)
2. Solid Ramen
Senne Lamence is United’s most modest summer signing. They spent £200m on attacking reinforcements, but the late arrival of the goalkeeper from Royal Antwerp was not matched by other signings. But with Andre Onana ousted on loan to Trabzonspor and Ramens assuming the number one role, the Belgian calmly and unassumingly changed the entire atmosphere of United’s backline.
Lamence is only 23 and playing in the Premier League for the first time, but he already looks very confident. And the fact that we are no longer surprised by how he dealt with what Bournemouth threw at him, and how comfortably he does so, only serves to highlight how precarious Onana’s situation was during the post. He saved and held long-range potshots with ease, letting his opponents know they had to create clearer openings if they wanted to beat him.
Sene Lamence kept Bournemouth at bay in the first half (Image: Charlotte Wilson/Getty Images)
3. Cunha sparks
There was a lull in the game and the game could have been headed for a 0-0 draw for Bournemouth’s fourth time in their last five Premier League games when Cunha slipped between two defenders and into the penalty area. Just as his header missed, an exhausted Jimenez pulled on his shirt and was awarded a penalty.
Cunha’s performance is especially commendable considering he plays out of position on the left of United’s front three. United released Jadon Sancho, Anthony and Marcus Rashford in the summer and are now without Patrick Dorg, leaving them short on positions. However, it was Cunha who started it all.
Matheus Cunha is brought down on penalty by Alex Jimenez (Image: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
4. VAR mismatch
There are very few matches that don’t involve VAR controversy. And unfortunately, we end up choosing a different outline of the match. United’s penalty was undeniable, with Jimenez tugging on Cunha’s shirt and Atwell standing by to point to the spot. Away fans will claim Adrian Truffert did the same when he pulled Amad’s arm. However, it was not given.
The stakes for VAR were further raised by the fact that Bournemouth went up to the other end and scored. Would they really overturn the home goal and give the opposition a penalty? The answer, as many might imagine, was no.
Ryan Christie makes it 1-1 after United are denied a second penalty (Image: Robin Jones/Getty Images)
5. Maguire’s day is going to be tough.
Maguire had a great Friday. He was recalled to the England squad by manager Thomas Tuchel. Then came news that he was close to signing a new one-year contract extension with Manchester United as a reward for his solid form under Carrick.
But Bournemouth’s sharp passing and Evanilsson’s perfect first touch opened him up. He lunged at the Brazilian striker and tipped him over, but was deservedly dismissed for denying him a clear scoring chance. Double jeopardy — not to mention the one-game suspension he would receive — may seem harsh, but Atwell applied the rules correctly.
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