Manchester United and Bournemouth produced a Premier League classic at Old Trafford as both sides led and had to come from behind before settling for a point from an eight-goal thriller.
United’s 2-1 half-time lead evaporated within seven minutes of the restart as Evanilson and Marcus Tavernier struck.
But Bruno Fernandes’ free-kick and Matheus Cunha’s effort within two minutes of each other turned the contest on its head a second time, only for 19-year-old Eli Junior Kroupi to drive home an equaliser six minutes from time to earn Bournemouth a point from a breathless game.
Amid the chaos, it was almost forgotten that Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim had tweaked his favoured five-man defence and been rewarded for pushing Amad Diallo into a more advanced position with the Ivorian heading home from close range after 13 minutes.
The goal came after United had hit the visitors with a blistering start – six shots in the opening 10 minutes being their most so quickly in a Premier League game since October 2022.
As it turned out, it was the prelude to a remarkable contest.
Between them, the two sides had 38 shots. Casemiro picked up a booking that rules him out of Sunday’s trip to Aston Villa. The last significant threats on goal were two stoppage-time efforts from David Brooks that needed reaction saves from Senne Lammens to prevent Bournemouth clinching victory.
The result cost United a top-five spot, while 13th-placed Bournemouth have now gone seven games without a win.
