Manchester United staged a dramatic comeback to secure a 2-2 draw against Everton at Goodison Park, Liverpool, on Sunday. Trailing 2-0 at halftime, the Red Devils managed to level the score with goals from captain Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte. Despite a lackluster first half, where they failed to register a single shot on target, United's resilience helped them earn a crucial point.
Everton, under the guidance of manager David Moyes, had begun the match strongly. Moyes, who returned to the club after previously managing them from 2002 to 2013, has led Everton to four wins in their first six games this season. The Toffees took the lead in the 19th minute with a goal from Beto, his fifth in four games. Everton continued to dominate the first half, with Manchester United's expected goals (xG) value standing at a mere 0.04.
Manchester United's struggles were evident as they found themselves 15th in the Premier League table, albeit 13 points clear of the relegation zone. Under manager Ruben Amorim, United had managed just four wins in their 14 league games. The first half performance drew criticism from former defender Rio Ferdinand.
"I'm sitting here and I don't know if I have seen a United team this bad," – Rio Ferdinand
The second half saw a rejuvenated Manchester United side. Bruno Fernandes sparked hope for his team by scoring a stunning free-kick goal. The captain later expressed his frustration over the team's slow start.
"We had our chances in the second half, but the problem is that we started the game too late," – Fernandes
Everton doubled their advantage when Abdoulaye Doucoure scored his second goal in four games. However, Manchester United refused to give up. Manuel Ugarte scored the equalizer with just ten minutes left on the clock, ensuring that the visitors left Goodison Park with a point.
In the final moments of the match, Manchester United escaped defeat thanks to VAR, which overturned a late penalty awarded to Everton for a shirt pull on Ashley Young. This decision prevented what could have been a decisive blow for Everton and allowed United to breathe a sigh of relief.
The match highlighted both teams' contrasting fortunes under their current managers. Everton's promising start under Moyes has brought renewed hope to their supporters, while Manchester United continues to grapple with inconsistency under Amorim's leadership.
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