MAN UTD 3-2 BURNLEY: Bruno Fernandes’ 97th-minute penalty rescued Ruben Amorim and gave the Red Devils their first win of the season following their midweek cup woes at Grimsby
Bruno Fernandes scored a 97th-minute penalty to give Manchester United their first win of the season and ease the pressure on Ruben Amorim. The Red Devils, who came into Saturday’s Premier League clash with Burnley off the back of their midweek humiliation against Grimsby Town, were pegged back twice by the Clarets but snatched a 3-2 victory at the death.
The game got off to a controversial start, as the Red Devils’ dominant play led to a penalty – or so they thought. After a VAR review, Sam Barrott overturned his decision for a foul by Kyle Walker on Mason Mount.
United decided to take matters into their own hands but needed a stroke of luck to take the lead, as own goal from Burnley’s Josh Cullen made it 1-0. There was a momentum swing in the second half, as Burnley came out of the blocks and equalised through Lyle Foster.
The Clarets were only level for 11 seconds, as Bryan Mbeumo put Amorim’s side back ahead. Burnley didn’t let their heads drop, though, and equalised once again through Jaidon Anthony. But when Amad was fouled Anthony in stoppage time, a lengthy VAR checked resulted in a penalty for the hosts, allowing Fernandes to bury it.
Here are six talking points from Old Trafford.
READ MORE: ‘Pathetic’ Man Utd slammed as Bruno Fernandes comes under scrutinyREAD MORE: Ruben Amorim urged to turn to Wayne Rooney to help arrest Man Utd slide
1. Penalty overturned by VAR
When he most needed it, looked like Ruben Amorim had got the dream start. United were purring in the opening stages, as Leny Yoro forced a save from Martin Dubravka before Bryan Mbeumo went close on two occasions.
Then a mistake from Kyle Walker gave Mason Mount a sniff and the United No.7 drove towards the penalty area. The pair made contact and Mount went bundling down, resulting in referee Sam Barrott awarding United a penalty.
Bruno Fernandes had the ball in hands, ready to make amends for last week’s miss at Fulham. A VAR check was taking place for what most of the stadium believed to be to determine whether or not the foul took place inside the 18-yard box.
But there was no foul after all. Barrott was sent to the pitch-side monitor and overturned his decision, telling Old Trafford that Walker hadn’t committed any offence and a drop ball was awarded to restart play.
2. Amorim’s much-needed stroke of luck
Sometimes, you need a bit of fortune. But given their dominant start, United will argue that they made their own luck for when Josh Cullen’s own goal broke the deadlock on 27 minutes.
Casemiro rose highest at a free-kick and after his header cannoned back off the crossbar, the ball hit the helpless Cullen, firing it back towards goal. Dubravka did his best to keep the ball out but Barrott’s watch indicated that it had indeed gone over the line, sending the Stretford End into celebration.
3. Cunha injury blow
Just as things were looking up, the Red Devils lost one of their summer signings through injury. Matheus Cunha went down in serious discomfort, seemingly in his right hamstring.
The Brazilian forward couldn’t continue and hobbled off, putting his participation for Brazil during the international break into deep jeopardy. Fellow new signing Benjamin Sesko was expected to replace Cunha but Amorim opted to give Joshua Zirkzee his first minutes of the Premier League campaign, a decision which raised eyebrows.
At half-time, another potential injury blow emerged. Mount came off and still Sesko wasn’t the man, as Kobbie Mainoo – amid intense speculation over his future – entered the fray for the second half.
Burnley started the better, troubling United and gaining much more territory than they had done in the second half. And the equaliser didn’t take long.
4. Burnley’s 11-second parity
Scott Parker’s men were rightly growing in confidence and knew that United would give them a chance. The Red Devils’ defence was all jumbled up to allow Jacob Bruun Larsen space on the left flank.
Diogo Dalot rushed out but he was too late, allowing Bruun Larsen’s cross to be met by Lyle Foster, who finished past Altay Bayindir. Burnley had drawn level but the parity would only last 11 seconds.
A long ball from Bayindir after kick-off found Zirkzee, who headed on for Dalot to collect. The United wing-back looked to his right and there was Mbeumo, who’d put the brakes on earlier than Burnley’s defence to give himself space.
For his second goal in four days, the £71million forward blasted home and the Clarets were once again behind. Amorim shook his head in disbelief.
5. United pegged back again
For Amorim, the head shaking wasn’t over. Instead of being rocked by United’s second goal, Burnley got back on the horse and pulled themselves level within nine minutes.
Jaidon Anthony was the goalscorer, having been Jonny on the spot to Bayindir’s parry from a Loum Tchaouna shot. But the root cause of the goal was Walker’s long throw-in which was flicked on twice.
The Red Devils’ woes from set pieces and throw-ins are clear to see. Having replaced Andre Onana from the midweek cup exit, there’ll also be questions of Bayindir’s role amid United’s pursuit of Royal Antwerp goalkeeper Senne Lammens.
6. Fernandes wins it at the death
After being denied the chance to make amends earlier in the game, Fernandes was given one at the death. In the 97th minute, after a long, long wait, the man who blazed his effort high over the bar at Craven Cottage didn’t miss again.
A wave of relief rushed over Old Trafford – apart from the devastated away section. Their performance left much to be desired but United have finally found a way to win.
There’s work to do after the international break.
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