Manchester United 4-4 Bournemouth

At Old Trafford yesterday, Manchester United were in danger of having their record of 328 games without losing at home after leading at half-time snatched from them by Bournemouth, but the Reds rallied to equalize and even regain the lead before Eli Kroupi equalized for Bournemouth again at the death. It was a true captain’s performance from Bruno Fernandes as he scored one, a brilliant freekick and assisted another. Amad Diallo, Casemiro and Mattheus Cunha were the others on the scoresheet for Ruben Amorim’s men.

Antoine Semenyo scored for the first time in 8 Premier League matches, with Evanilson and Marcus Tavernier also on the scoresheet for Bournemouth.

Mason Mount and Bryan Mbeumo were the doubles 10s behind Mattheus Cunha in Manchester United’s 3421, while Evanilson started up top for Bournemouth, with Antoine Semenyo and Alex Jimenez flanking him by his left and right respectively and Justin Kluivert in the 10/SS position just behind Evanilson.

From minute 1, the contest at Old Trafford erupted with an intensity that promised a classic encounter. Manchester United began the match electrically, immediately putting the Bournemouth defense on the back foot with high-tempo passing and movement. Just two minutes into the game, the hosts carved out their first significant opening when Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo linked up effectively. Mbeumo produced a clever backheel to set up Bruno Fernandes, whose shot was blocked by Adrien Truffert. The block immediately sparked fierce appeals for a handball from the United players and fans, as the ball appeared to strike the defender’s arm, but the referee remained unmoved and waved the protests away.

The frenetic start took a physical toll early on. In the fifth minute, Bournemouth suffered a significant blow when Tyler Adams pulled up with an injury. The midfielder was unable to continue, forcing the visitors into an unplanned substitution, with Alex Scott coming on to replace him in the engine room. Despite the disruption, United continued to press, and in the eighth minute, Mason Mount drew the first big save of the night. Meeting a cutback from Mbeumo, Mount wrapped his left foot around the ball, directing a dangerous effort on goal, but Bournemouth goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic stood firm to make a strong stop.

United’s relentless pressure finally paid dividends in the 13th minute. Diogo Dalot, advancing down the flank, whipped in a teasing cross that found Matheus Cunha. The forward headed the ball at goal, forcing a parry from Petrovic. However, the goalkeeper could only push the ball upwards, where it looped invitingly for Amad Diallo, who nodded it into the net from close range to give United a deserved 1–0 lead.

Following the opener, the hosts enjoyed a period of sustained dominance between the 20th and 30th minutes. Bryan Mbeumo attempted a spectacular flying volley that sailed over the bar, while Casemiro saw a side-footed effort blocked and a header deflected wide as United hunted for a second. Bournemouth struggled to create meaningful chances during this spell, with their only response being a tame header from Marcus Tavernier that went straight into the arms of United keeper Senne Lammens.

However, complacency proved costly for the home side in the 40th minute. A defensive lapse saw Mason Mount and Luke Shaw dispossessed near the touchline, allowing Bournemouth to break. Antoine Semenyo drove aggressively into the box and unleashed a low shot that struck the post and nestled into the net, leveling the score at 1–1 against the run of play. The goal raised the temperature of the match significantly, and just three minutes later, tempers flared, resulting in yellow cards for both Semenyo and Dalot.

Just as it seemed the teams would go into the break level, United struck again deep in stoppage time. In the 49th minute (45+4′), Bruno Fernandes swung in a corner kick. Casemiro rose highest at the back post to squeeze a header past Petrovic, restoring United’s lead at 2–1 right before the halftime whistle.

The second half began with a shock to the system for Old Trafford. Just 37 seconds after the restart, Bournemouth equalized for a second time. Marcus Tavernier played a precise through ball to Evanilson, who slotted a low finish past Lammens to make it 2–2 immediately.

The momentum shifted violently, and United’s frustrations were compounded in the 49th minute when Casemiro received a booking for a bad foul,a yellow card that ruled him out of the upcoming fixture against Aston Villa.

Bournemouth completed a stunning turnaround in the 52nd minute. Marcus Tavernier, already instrumental in the equalizer, stepped up to a free-kick just outside the area. He curled a ferocious effort around the wall and into the bottom corner, leaving Lammens with no chance and putting Bournemouth 3–2 ahead.

Chasing the game, United manager Ruben Amorim looked to the bench to regain control. In the 61st minute, Kobbie Mainoo replaced Casemiro, followed later by the introductions of Benjamin Sesko and Lisandro Martínez for Mason Mount and Leny Yoro in the 69th minute. Controversy struck again in the 70th minute when a shot from Matheus Cunha struck Alex Scott on the arm at close range. United players screamed for a penalty, but play was allowed to continue, and Mbeumo blazed the subsequent loose ball over the bar.

The match took another dramatic twist in the 77th minute. United captain Bruno Fernandes stepped up to a free-kick and produced a moment of magic, curling a stunning effort into the top corner to drag his side back to 3–3. The momentum was now firmly with the hosts, and just two minutes later, they retook the lead. Benjamin Sesko put a ball into the box which Adrien Truffert failed to clear effectively. Matheus Cunha pounced on the defensive error, finishing clinically to make it 4–3 and send the home crowd into raptures.

Yet, the drama was far from over. In the 84th minute, Bournemouth refused to lie down. Substitute Junior Kroupi received a pass from Alex Jimenez, took a composed touch, and fired a cool finish into the bottom corner, silencing Old Trafford once again to make it 4–4.

The final minutes were breathless, with Bournemouth nearly stealing a win in stoppage time. In the 91st minute, substitute David Brooks saw a header brilliantly saved by Senne Lammens. The goalkeeper then reacted sharply to block the follow-up attempt, keeping United in the game. In the 96th minute, Marcos Senesi tried one last speculative effort from 20 yards, but Lammens held onto the ball, preserving the point as the final whistle blew on a chaotic 4–4 thriller.