Manchester United staged a late comeback to earn a dramatic draw at Everton after they looked set to plunge deeper into crisis at Goodison Park.
Everton’s resurgence under their returning manager David Moyes – formerly of United – looked set to continue as they exerted total domination in the first 45 minutes to establish a deserved two-goal lead.
They exposed every United flaw in that opening half, Beto turning in his fifth goal under Moyes in the 19th minute after a goalmouth scramble before Abdoulaye Doucoure headed them two ahead.
The second Everton goal was a desperate moment for United defender Harry Maguire, who failed to react with any urgency after Andre Onana saved Jack Harrison’s shot, allowing Doucoure to rise above him to head home.
Everton remained in control until Bruno Fernandes steered home a free-kick with 18 minutes left, and Manuel Ugarte then drove in powerfully eight minutes later to draw United level.
United then survived a late scare when referee Andrew Madley awarded a penalty as Ashley Young went down under Maguire’s challenge, with Matthijs de Lig also tugging the Everton veteran, but the decision was reversed after a video assistant referee check.
The second-half comeback had been an unlikely turn of events given Everton’s initial superiority, with United sparing manager Ruben Amorim the indignity of what would have been the team’s ninth league defeat in 13 matches.
Everton left frustrated
Everton will be bitterly disappointed not to close out a win in a game they dominated comfortably until Fernandes threw United their lifeline with his smart free-kick.
That frustration will be compounded by the fact they were denied the late penalty following a VAR intervention after Maguire appear to manhandle former United man Young as he chased a loose ball in the penalty area.
It is a sign of Everton’s improvement under Moyes that they will regard a draw as unsatisfactory, but they ran out of steam as United finally applied pressure.
Beto continued his recent fine form under Moyes with a poacher’s finish and when Doucoure added the second before the interval there looked to be no way back for United.
Everton, however, started to look vulnerable after Fernandes’ goal – but they were clearly nursing a real sense of grievance at not being awarded the spot-kick that could have brought them all three points.
Man Utd show spirit after horror show
United deserve credit for the second-half improvement – but there is no disguising the mediocrity of what head coach Amorim currently has at his disposal.
Fernandes and Ugarte were at the forefront of that United rally, but for the first 72 minutes this was a shocking team performance, lacking in desire and creativity.
Fernandes kept probing, but Maguire had an afternoon to forget.
There was his undistinguished part in Everton’s second goal, and then the England defender was holding his breath when his clumsy challenge on Young ran the risk of giving the hosts a penalty, and potentially an injury-time winner.
The agitated, animated body language of Amorim, certainly until the tide turned, was a reflection of his continued unhappiness with what he was witnessing from United.
At least now he has seen a show of defiance, a small mercy Amorim will grab at with gratitude.
