Match report: Everton 2 United 2

A spirited second-half comeback saw Manchester United take a Premier League point from our final visit to Goodison Park, following a 2-2 draw with Everton.

Goals from Beto and Abdoulaye Doucoure had seen the home side go into the break two goals to the good on our 107th and last outing at the 133-year-old stadium, as Everton prepare to move into their new ground at Bramley-Moore Dock next season.

But United rallied in the second half, with late strikes from Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte ensuring our parting memory of the famous old arena was not a defeat – even after the Toffees were awarded a penalty in stoppage time, a decision overturned by Andy Madley after consultation with the Video Assistant Referee.

FIRST HALF – TOFFEES GO TWO-UP

It was the home side who made the slightly brighter start in the early afternoon sunshine on Merseyside, with in-form striker Beto forcing Andre Onana into a sixth-minute save, to keep out his headed connection with Jack Harrison’s cross from the left.

Everton’s aforementioned opportunity was by no means the highlight of a dominant start however, and a relatively even contest soon produced a good opportunity for United. Ugarte won the ball back high up the pitch and sent Patrick Dorgu to the byline on the left side, whose low ball across the box needed goalkeeper Jordan Pickford’s intervention to stop Rasmus Hojlund tapping in.

Despite Ruben Amorim’s men having some success in moving the ball through the lines, the Reds were dealt a setback when the hosts took the lead following a 19th-minute set-piece. The corner from the right was cleared as far as Doucoure, whose header back into the mix was swiped at and missed by Jesper Lindstrom but fired into the ground, over Onana and into the net by Beto.

A lengthy VAR check for offside followed that goal, but there was no doubt about the effort that put our opponents 2-0 up just after the half-hour mark. This time it was Beto running in behind the defence who fed Harrison and, after the winger’s initial attempt was palmed high by Onana, Doucoure completed his late run into the 18-yard area by meeting the loose ball and heading in.

Everton had lost one of their previous six games before United’s visit and, after going two goals ahead, looked a side brimming with confidence. The home supporters made their satisfaction clear audibly in the build-up to half-time, as their team limited the Reds to a long-range strike from Ugarte which curled off target.

Amorim’s men were frustrated and the task nearly became even tougher in six minutes of added time before the interval, but for a vital clearance from Noussair Mazraoui, who prevented Beto from converting fellow goalscorer Doucoure’s low pass across the face of goal.

SECOND HALF – SPIRITED REDS FIGHT BACK 

A Harrison cross created the first major chance of the opening half, and it was the same again in the second, with the former Leeds and Man City man’s corner from the right met by a leaping Jarrad Branthwaite and saved by Onana.

Going the other way, United were setting about making a statement comeback and had a shout for a penalty turned down by referee Andy Madley when Harry Maguire went down under contact from James Tarkowski, while attempting to meet a Fernandes free-kick.

The incident was quickly confirmed to have been judged correctly by the Video Assistant Referee, and the Reds had to refocus, as Everton looked to find the net again themselves. Action from Onana was again needed to keep the lead down to two, as our Cameroonian shot-stopper produced a smart save to prevent Doucoure from sweeping home Jake O’Brien’s wicked cross from the right.

The importance of that intervention only raised in its importance moments later, as Fernandes pulled one back for United with a brilliant free-kick. After the midfielder’s initial set-piece was blocked by the arm of a man in the Everton wall, he made no mistake with the opportunity to go again from a few yards further forward, leaving Pickford rooted to the spot as he powered the ball across the goal and into the far bottom corner.

Our no.8’s thrilling strike shifted the momentum inside Goodison Park and a now-nervy home crowd helplessly watched Ugarte wipe out their advantage and make it 2-2 in the 80th minute. Again, a Fernandes free-kick was the source: the Portuguese’s delivery into the penalty box was cleared as far as Ugarte 20 yards out, who allowed the ball bounce before thrashing home on his left foot.

It made for a thrilling end to a game that had earlier threatened to fizzle out for the Reds. The home side were fortunate that a goalbound Joshua Zirkzee header struck a somewhat unaware Branthwaite, before Pickford tipped over a speculative long-range effort from Fernandes. Ninety yards the other way, it was Onana who kept out Beto’s nodded attempt from point-blank range. 

The Reds’ goalkeeper was also equal to Idrissa Gueye’s low shot in six minutes of stoppage time, but after the ball broke the way of former Red Ashley Young, the hosts were awarded a penalty with the latter judged to have been brought down under contact from Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire.

In a dramatic finale, referee Madley overturned his decision having been advised to watch it again at the VAR monitor, sparing our blushes and meaning the points were eventually shared.

MATCH DETAILS

Booked: Garner, O’Brien, Young.

Booked: Obi.

Goals: Fernandes 72, Ugarte 80.

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