Man United Comeback Denies Everton in Dramatic Draw
Source:Â http://richportaltv.com
Manchester United staged a late comeback before being saved by VAR as they avoided plunging deeper into crisis with a dramatic draw at Everton.
Everton’s resurgence under returning manager David Moyes—once of United—was poised to continue as the hosts exerted total dominance in the first 45 minutes to establish a deserved two-goal lead at Goodison Park.
They exposed every United flaw in that opening half, with Beto turning in his fifth goal under Moyes in the 19th minute after a goalmouth scramble before Abdoulaye Doucoure headed them two ahead.
The second Everton goal was a desperate moment for United defender Harry Maguire, who failed to react with any urgency after Andre Onana saved Jack Harrison’s shot, allowing Doucoure to rise above him to head home.
Everton remained in control until Bruno Fernandes steered home a free-kick with 18 minutes left, and Manuel Ugarte then drove in powerfully eight minutes later to draw United level.
United then survived a late scare when referee Andrew Madley awarded a penalty as Ashley Young went down under Maguire’s challenge, with Matthijs de Ligt also tugging the Everton veteran, but the decision was reversed after a video assistant referee check.
The second-half comeback had been an unlikely turn of events given Everton’s initial superiority, with United sparing manager Ruben Amorim the indignity of what would have been the team’s ninth league defeat in 13 matches.
Everton left frustrated
Everton will be bitterly disappointed not to close out a win in a game they dominated comfortably until Fernandes threw United their lifeline with his smart free-kick.
That frustration will be compounded by the fact they were denied the late penalty following a VAR intervention after Maguire appeared to manhandle former United man Young as he chased a loose ball in the penalty area.
It is a sign of Everton’s improvement under Moyes that they will regard a draw as unsatisfactory, but they ran out of steam as United finally applied pressure.
Beto continued his recent fine form under Moyes with a poacher’s finish, and when Doucoure added the second before the interval, there looked to be no way back for United.
Everton, however, started to look vulnerable after Fernandes’ goal, but they were nursing a real sense of grievance at not being awarded the spot-kick that could have brought them all three points.
After the gripping finale, the draw means Everton remains one point ahead of 15th-placed United.