Manchester United staged a late comeback to earn a dramatic draw at Everton after they looked set to plunge deeper into crisis at Goodison Park.
Everton’s resurgence under their returning manager David Moyes – formerly of United – looked set to continue as they exerted total domination in the first 45 minutes to establish a deserved two-goal lead.
They exposed every United flaw in that opening half, 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 home powerfully eight minutes later to draw United level.
It was 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.
United then survived a late scare when referee Andrew Madley awarded a penalty as Ashley Young went down under Maguire’s challenge, but the decision was reversed after a video assistant referee check.
Everton left frustrated
Everton will be bitterly disappointed not to close out a win in a game they dominated comfortably until Fernandes threw United an unlikely lifeline by getting them back into the game with smart free-kick.
And that frustration will be compounded by the fact they were denied that late penalty following a VAR intervention after Maguire appear 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 clearly nursing a real sense of grievance at not being awarded that late spot-kick that could have brought them another three points.
[BBC]