Manchester United clawed back from a two-goal deficit to salvage a 2-2 draw against Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday, with Bruno Fernandes at the heart of the comeback.
United seemed destined for yet another damaging defeat under Ruben Amorim, as goals from Beto and Abdoulaye Doucoure put Everton in control within 33 minutes.
However, a Fernandes free kick reignited United’s hopes 18 minutes from time, before Manuel Ugarte struck the equaliser.
Everton thought they had a last-gasp penalty in stoppage time, but after a VAR review, referee Andy Madley overturned the decision, leaving both sides to settle for a point.
The draw nudges Everton up to 12th place, while United remain in 15th, struggling to find consistent form under Amorim.
With David Moyes guiding Everton to 14 points from the last 18 available, the Toffees were brimming with confidence. They applied early pressure, forcing United’s shaky defence into repeated errors.
Everton’s opener in the 19th minute came courtesy of comedic defending from United. A poorly cleared corner eventually fell to Beto, who fired into the ground and over Andre Onana. The in-form striker now has five goals in his last four league games under Moyes.
Beto was instrumental again in the second goal. His run behind the United defence set up Jack Harrison, whose shot was parried into the air by Onana, allowing Doucoure to outmuscle Harry Maguire and nod in Everton’s second.
Doucoure nearly extended the lead after halftime, but Onana pulled off a crucial save to keep United in the contest.
United had no shots on target until Fernandes’ curling free kick wrong-footed Jordan Pickford, pulling a goal back in the 72nd minute.
Another Fernandes free kick led to the equaliser, as Beto’s headed clearance fell to Ugarte, who fired home his first goal for United.
Both sides had chances to snatch a winner. Beto’s header was too close to Onana, while Pickford tipped over a Fernandes effort from range.
The biggest talking point came in stoppage time when Ashley Young appeared to be pulled down by a combination of Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt. Madley initially awarded a penalty, but after checking the monitor, he reversed the decision, sparing United from another setback.
While Everton will feel aggrieved, Amorim will be relieved to escape Goodison with a point, as his struggling United side continues to seek stability.
