United Beyond Manchester

For 70 minutes, Manchester United struggled, as Everton’s relentless press stifled the Reds and enabled the hosts to take a two-goal lead. Then, almost inexplicably, Amorim’s team rallied, leveled the score, and secured the final point they would ever earn at Goodison Park.

Match Flow

Everton were on the front foot from the start as Manchester United could not break through the home side’s press.

The Toffees’ dominance led to multiple corners early on, including one that led to the opening goal. Jack Harrison’s ball in caused the United defense trouble immediately, and, after the Reds failed to get the ball away on several attempts, an Abdoulaye Doucoure header found Beto, who smashed the ball into the ground and past Andre Onana.

Abdoulaye Doucoure doubled the home side’s lead in the 33rd minute. Jack Harrison’s initial shot was saved by Onana, who could only parry the ball into the air. Doucoure, wanting the ball more, outjumped a sluggish Harry Maguire to head the ball into the net.

Ruben Amorim’s team trailed by two goals at halftime, having been thoroughly outplayed. Everton’s expected goals (xG) finished at 1.41, while United’s was a dismal 0.04. Despite dominating possession, the Reds failed to create any significant chances, managing just two shots, neither of which were on target.

Bruno Fernandes got United back into the match with a well-struck free kick in the 72nd minute. The club captain’s strike, the team’s first on target of the game, found the far corner after rooting Jordan Pickford to the spot in his goal to make it 2-1.

Manuel Ugarte’s first goal for Manchester United leveled the match at two. The Uruguayan midfielder brought the ball down after a short clearance from Everton’s defense and struck the ball sweetly past Pickford with his left foot, silencing the home crowd.

The Everton faithful believed they had gotten a penalty in the third minute of added time with an opportunity to steal a dramatic victory. However, after a lengthy VAR check and on-field review, the penalty was rescinded for a dive by Ashley Young.

Analysis

For 70 minutes, Manchester United were slow and made the simple things difficult. Easy passes went astray, and clearances were short or poor. Amorim’s team played directly into the hands of the Everton press and could not even get out of their own half for large portions of the match. Bruno Fernandes’s switch deeper into the midfield settled the team down and got the captain more involved, helping to pin Everton back.

Speaking of Bruno, everything positive United does starts with the Portuguese Magnifico. His free-kick goal completely changed the match, lifting the spirits of the away fans and players and making the leveler inevitable. He has been “the guy” for the club for years now and will be the catalyst if United is to find success in the last few months of the season.

Next Match

Manchester United return to Old Trafford to face Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich Town on Wednesday before welcoming Fulham to Manchester on Sunday.