Manchester United fought hard to avoid a third consecutive Premier League defeat, drawing 1-1 with 10-man Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Sunday. The match, which saw Manchester United struggle to assert control, ended in dramatic fashion as Rasmus Hojlund’s stoppage-time equalizer salvaged a point for the struggling Red Devils.
Bournemouth took the lead in the 23rd minute when Antoine Semenyo found the back of the net with a well-taken shot. The goal came after a costly mistake by Manchester United’s Patrick Dorgu, who lost possession in his own half. Semenyo capitalized on the error, controlling a flick from Evanilson before finishing calmly past United goalkeeper Andre Onana for his 11th goal of the season.
Despite a strong start to the match, United failed to capitalize on their early chances. Kobbie Mainoo tested Bournemouth’s Kepa Arrizabalaga with a curling shot, and Alejandro Garnacho had a powerful effort that narrowly missed. However, the visitors soon found themselves behind after Semenyo’s clinical strike. Bournemouth nearly doubled their lead through Dango Ouattara, whose shot from distance struck the post, further frustrating United.
As the match progressed, the turning point came in the 70th minute when Bournemouth’s Evanilson was shown a controversial red card. Initially booked for a tackle on Noussair Mazraoui, the decision was upgraded to a red after VAR intervention. The decision sparked anger from the Bournemouth players, who believed the challenge was not worthy of a dismissal, especially after it appeared that Evanilson had slipped before making contact.
With a man advantage, United pushed forward desperately in search of an equalizer, but Bournemouth held firm until the dying moments of the game. In the 96th minute, Luke Shaw whipped in a cross that was flicked on by Manuel Ugarte, and Hojlund reacted quickly to poke the ball into the net from close range, rescuing a point for his side.
Despite the late drama, Manchester United’s performance was far from convincing. They are now sitting in 14th place in the Premier League, far from their usual standards, with the prospect of missing out on European competition next season. The draw leaves United in a difficult position, having only secured six wins under manager Ruben Amorim since his arrival in November.
Looking ahead, Manchester United’s focus now shifts to the Europa League, with a crucial semi-final match against Athletic Bilbao later this week.
