Everton 2-2 Manchester United: Two Leads, Two Points Thrown Away
Manchester United left the Hill Dickinson Stadium with a point on Sunday, but this was one that will feel much more like a defeat.
Twice United took the lead. Twice Everton found a response.
Bryan Mbeumo looked to have put Michael Carrick’s side on course for an important away victory with a brilliant goal just after half-time. After Tyrique George equalised late on, Benjamin Sesko appeared to have won it with an 88th-minute header.
Then came the sucker punch.
Deep into stoppage time, Everton debutant Ainsley Maitland-Niles produced a stunning long-range strike to make it 2-2 and snatch two points away from United.
For all the encouraging signs going forward, United once again walked away talking about what might have been.
A Frustrating First Half
United actually started the match reasonably well.
Bruno Fernandes came agonisingly close to opening the scoring when he struck the crossbar, while United found opportunities to attack Everton down the flanks.
But there was a familiar problem: promising situations weren’t being turned into goals.
Everton also carried enough threat to remind United that they couldn’t afford to switch off defensively. Thierno Barry caused problems, and although the hosts didn’t punish United before the interval, there were warning signs.
The teams went into half-time at 0-0.
United wouldn’t have to wait long after the restart.
Mbeumo Strikes Again
Just over a minute into the second half, Bryan Mbeumo produced the moment of quality United had been searching for.
Driving forward before finding the finish, Mbeumo put United 1-0 ahead and continued to demonstrate exactly why he can become such an important player in this attack.
There is a directness about Mbeumo that United have desperately needed. When he receives the ball and sees space ahead of him, his first thought is to attack it.
It was an excellent individual goal and should have provided United with the platform to take control.
Instead, Everton gradually worked their way back into the contest.
United Fail to Kill the Game
This is where the frustration begins.
Good teams don’t simply take the lead. They recognise the moments when an opponent is vulnerable and finish the job.
United didn’t.
Everton remained alive, and as the second half progressed, the hosts began applying greater pressure.
Eventually, United were punished.
Tyrique George made it 1-1 in the 83rd minute with a powerful finish that gave Senne Lammens little chance.
After being ahead for most of the second half, United suddenly had just a few minutes to find another goal.
And somehow, they did.
Sesko Looks to Have Won It
Benjamin Sesko came up with what appeared to be the decisive moment.
In the 88th minute, the striker headed United back in front.
Everton 1-2 Manchester United.
Surely that was it?
After surrendering the advantage only minutes earlier, United had responded perfectly. Sesko had delivered the sort of late goal supporters want from their centre-forward, and Carrick’s side only needed to see out stoppage time.
For a team with serious ambitions this season, these are precisely the situations where composure matters.
Keep possession. Win fouls. Defend the box. Slow the match down.
Whatever it takes, get the three points onto the bus.
United couldn’t do it.
A 96th-Minute Hammer Blow
With virtually the final kick of the match, Ainsley Maitland-Niles produced an extraordinary strike from distance.
2-2.
There was little Lammens could do about the finish itself. Sometimes you simply have to acknowledge an exceptional goal.
But United still have to ask how Everton were allowed the opportunity in the first place.
When you’ve gone 2-1 ahead in the 88th minute away from home, conceding a result-changing goal in the 96th minute is extremely difficult to accept.
The goal itself was spectacular.
The circumstances that allowed it to matter were not.
The Attack Is Starting to Offer Encouragement
There are positives.
Mbeumo scoring again is a major one.
Sesko getting on the scoresheet is another.
United increasingly look capable of creating dangerous situations, and there are signs that Carrick is developing an attacking unit capable of hurting Premier League opposition.
That’s important.
But scoring twice away from home should be enough to win plenty of football matches.
At the moment, it isn’t enough for Manchester United.
And that’s the bigger concern.
The Defensive Problems Cannot Be Ignored
United have now conceded at least twice in each of their opening three Premier League matches.
That’s six or more goals conceded before September has properly got going.
For a side hoping to compete at the top end of the Premier League — and preparing for Champions League football — that isn’t sustainable.
The problem isn’t necessarily one defender making one obvious mistake. It’s the collective vulnerability.
United can look comfortable for long spells and then suddenly appear remarkably easy to attack.
Carrick has work to do.
The balance between attacking freedom and defensive security has to improve because better teams will punish these weaknesses even more ruthlessly.
Two Points Dropped
Ultimately, this has to be viewed as two points dropped.
United led 1-0.
They then led 2-1 with only stoppage time remaining.
They still didn’t win.
There were positives in the performances of Mbeumo and Sesko, and United showed character to respond after Everton’s first equaliser.
But Manchester United cannot keep needing three goals to feel safe in Premier League matches.
After three games, United have four points and sit 11th in the table. It is far too early for dramatic conclusions about the season, but there is already an obvious issue Carrick needs to address.
The attack looks dangerous.
The defence looks vulnerable.
And until United find the balance between the two, matches like this will continue to slip through their fingers.
Full-time: Everton 2-2 Manchester United.
A point away from home — but after leading in the 88th minute, it should have been all three.
