Bournemouth secure one point in eight-goal draw with Man Utd

Manchester United were held to a 4-4 draw by Bournemouth on Matchday 16 of the Premier League. This is consirdered one of the best games of the season so far, with 8 goals and 39 shots on goals from both sides.

Amad Diallo gave Manchester United a deserved lead in the 13th minute, scoring with a header in his final match before the Africa Cup of Nations. A brief VAR check for offside involving Matheus Cunha followed, but the goal was allowed.

Antoine Semenyo equalised for Bournemouth in the 40th minute. Casemiro then restored United’s lead with a downward header in first-half stoppage time, sending Old Trafford into celebration.

Just seven minutes into the second half, United found themselves 3-2 behind. Evanilson equalised with a fine finish 38 seconds after the restart, before Marcus Tavernier curled a free-kick into the bottom-left corner.

The Red Devils then scored twice in quick succession to regain the lead. Bruno Fernandes equalised with a free-kick before Matheus Cunha finished from close range. However, Bournemouth rescued a point in the 84th minute when substitute Junior Kroupi scored the equaliser.

This was the seventh time this season that United have taken a 1-0 lead and then been pegged back. On only two occasions have they gone on to win.

The draw leaves Manchester United sixth on 26 points, level with Crystal Palace, Liverpool and Sunderland. Bournemouth, meanwhile, move up to 13th.

Man United’s head coach Ruben Amorim shared his thoughts at the post-match press conference: “I think we are pressing better. We are controlling better the game far from our goal. We are lacking of quality when we defend our goal. It’s something that we need to address, of course.”

“I think it’s different when you suffer so many goals and the opponent doesn’t have the same amount of, not even near, that we create to the opponent. It’s really frustrating, but we need to work a lot in the way we defend the box”, he said.