Manchester United secured their first Premier League win of the season on Saturday, defeating Burnley 3-2 at Old Trafford with a late penalty that drew strong protests from the visitors.
United went ahead in the 27th minute when Burnley’s Josh Cullen accidentally turned the ball into his own net.
The visitors responded early in the second half as Lyle Foster struck to level the game, but United quickly regained their advantage through Bryan Mbeumo’s finish.
Burnley showed resilience once more when Jaidon Anthony netted in the 67th minute to make it 2-2, piling pressure on Erik ten Hag’s men, who had failed to win in their opening fixtures.
The decisive moment came when United were awarded a penalty following what appeared to be minimal contact in the box.
Despite fierce protests from Burnley players and their bench, the referee stood by the decision, and captain Bruno Fernandes calmly converted from the spot to seal a 3-2 win.
The victory comes as a major relief for United, who had struggled to secure a win in their opening matches of the season despite significant summer reinforcements.
United’s woes had deepened earlier in the week with a shock Carabao Cup exit to fourth-tier side Grimsby Town, a defeat that drew heavy criticism of the team’s form.
Saturday’s win finally delivered their first three points of the campaign, easing some of the early pressure as they aim to rebuild momentum.