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Report, reaction, highlights: Bournemouth 2 United 2
Manchester United collected what could be a crucial point in our quest for UEFA Champions League qualification, after a pulsating 2-2 draw at AFC Bournemouth.
Resilience was required despite going ahead through Bruno Fernandes’s 61st-minute penalty, which lit the fuse on an explosive second half. Six minutes later, Ryan Christie levelled, but only after Amad had been left floored inside the box at the other end.
We didn’t lie down, and a flick off Bournemouth's James Hill from Fernandes’s corner restored our advantage, before Harry Maguire’s day of mixed emotions - after being recalled to the England squad - saw our centre-back red carded after a tug on Evanilson.
Junior Kroupi kept his composure amongst the chaos to equalise but despite heavy pressure in the final 10 minutes, with a man less, Michael Carrick’s side weathered the storm.
It was a first half of chances and tempo as both sides let loose, with the only missing ingredient a goal.
Brazilian Rayan served notice of his intentions after the hosts turned a good United attack into a chance of their own.
Bournemouth, one of the best counter-attacking teams in the Premier League, burst forward after Djordje Petrovic parried from Amad. Rayan burst away from Luke Shaw but couldn’t make up his mind to cross or shoot as the opportunity went to waste.
United began to find more swagger ourselves, Matheus Cunha teased and turned after a one-two with Fernandes and unleashed a shot that Petrovic had to turn around the post.
Danger man Rayan had rhythm, and continued to click through the gears. First he went low, forcing Senne Lammens to think fast before Marcus Tavernier’s left-wing centre escaped Evanilson’s right boot by millimeters.
Goalmouth action continued at either end. A floated Cunha pass gave Amad a moment in the penalty box, but his effort was superbly blocked by Adrien Truffert.
The best opportunity of the first half fell to Fernandes 10 minutes before the break. After a delightful Diogo Dalot dink to the back post, the skipper caught it perfectly, but Petrovic threw himself at the ball and somehow Bournemouth remained unbreached.
Moments later, defender Truffert showed he was keen to make an impact at the other end. Running onto a loose ball, the Frenchman let fly but Lammens’s grip was strong.
Bournemouth had ridden their luck, and the 1,500 United fans who made the long trip down, many on coach laid on by the club, sensed a second-half breakthrough having seen their team score in every Premier League away match since mid-September.
SECOND HALF - THE FLOODGATES OPEN
This game was always going to struggle to get anywhere near to what we witnessed at Old Trafford four months ago.
But you could have an argument for saying there was even more to discuss once the floodgates finally opened.
The second half came to life when Cunha powered forward and Alex Jimenez couldn’t help himself and grabbed his shirt in the box. Fernandes didn’t ask any questions, and slotted the penalty home low to the left for the Reds' customary away goal.
His 26th successful United spot-kick moved the captain ahead of Matt Le Tissier and into ninth for the most Premier League penalties scored.
Things were only warming up. Amad and the away fans felt he was denied a penalty when he went down under Truffert’s challenge and Bournemouth, as they do so well, broke at pace.
Swiftly down the other end, Christie’s toe-poke found a way past Lammens, drawing plenty of protests as it hit the back of the net due to the non-award of a second United spot-kick.
Complaints turned to cheers four minutes later. Yet another Fernandes assist from a corner was knocked on by Marcos Senesi and with Maguire ready to pounce, a flick off the face of Hill took the ball beyond the helpless Petrovic.
The celebrating centre-back’s joy was about to turn into agony. A rollercoaster of a day ended with a red card, referee Stuart Attwell unmoved after he pleaded his case having got too close to Evanilson in the box.
Another penalty, and another composed conversion with Kroupi, who had only just come on, tucking the ball into the bottom corner with Lammens sent the wrong way.
It was now all about shape with nine minutes left on the clock and with another nine to come, with only Benjamin Sesko anywhere near Bournemouth’s half as the hosts poured forward.
A backs-to-the-wall effort was needed to claim what could be a crucial point, appreciated at full-time by our travelling fans, who will have plenty to discuss on the long trip back.
AFC Bournemouth: Petrovic; Jimenez (Smith 73), Hill, Senesi, Truffert; Scott, Christie (c) (Kroupi 73); Rayan (Gannon-Doak 87), Adli (Brooks 73), Tavernier; Evanilson.
Substitutes not used: Mandas, Diakite, Unal, Toth, Milosavljevic.
Goals: Christie 67, Kroupi 81 (pen).
Booked: Jimenez, Smith.
United: Lammens; Dalot, Yoro, Maguire, Shaw; Casemiro (Ugarte 82) Mainoo; Amad (Mount 90+6) Fernandes (c), Cunha (Heaven 82); Mbeumo (Sesko 71).
Substitutes not used: Bayindir, Fredricson, Malacia, T. Fletcher, Zirkzee.
Goals: Fernandes 61 (pen), Hill 71 (og).
Booked: Casemiro, Sesko.
Sent off: Maguire.