Red Devils edge past Burnley 3-2 in thriller at Old Trafford to secure much-needed three points
A stoppage-time penalty from Bruno Fernandes secured Manchester United and head coach Bruno Amorim their first win of the Premier League season as they beat Burnley 3-2 at Old Trafford.
Fernandes – who missed from the spot last week at Fulham – converted from the spot in the seventh minute of additional time to secure a much-needed three points for Amorim’s side after their shock EFL Cup exit to League Two side Grimsby Town in midweek.
Despite going behind twice through a Josh Cullen own goal and Bryan Mbeumo, Burnley responded brilliantly through first Lyle Foster andthen Jaidon Anthony and looked set to earn a point.
Substitute Benjamin Sesko had gone close to a winner for Man Utd, but it was Fernandes who took full advantage when Amad was tugged back in the box by Anthony.
The win moves United up to ninth heading into the international break, while Scott Parker’s Burnley fall to 11th in the table with their second defeat of the season.
United were the better side early on and won a penalty when Kyle Walker was penalised for a foul on Mason Mount, but the decision was overturned as the challenge was deemed fair following a VAR review.
They eventually took a deserved lead in the 27th minute when Casemiro headed Bruno Fernandes’ free-kick off the crossbar, with the unknowing Cullen deflecting the rebound past Martin Dubravka. After Rodrigo Muniz’s own goal at Fulham, it made Man Utd the first team whose first two goals in a season have come via opposition players.
Burnley equalised 10 minutes into the second half after Foster turned home Jacob Bruun Larsen’s cross, but United regained the lead just 93 seconds later as Diogo Dalot’s low delivery was smashed in by Mbeumo, the first goal scored by a Man Utd player this season.
However, the Clarets levelled again in the 66th minute when Anthony reacted quickest to Altay Bayindir’s parry in the box from a corner, his shot deflecting in off Kobbie Mainoo.
Sesko twice went close with headers after coming off the bench, before Anthony pulled Amad’s shirt as he was entering the box, and with the penalty given after a VAR review. Fernandes placed the ball into the bottom-left corner to snatch the win.
Sesko’s late cameo shows promise
There were some eyebrows raised when Sesko was again on the bench from the start, and when Matheus Cunha was forced to leave the pitch after 31 minutes with a suspected hamstring injury, Amorim did not turn to the striker signed this summer from RB Leipzig.
He opted to bring on Joshua Zirkzee, leaving some United fans to wonder when their new striker will be ready for more than a cameo.
The Slovenian played the full 90 minutes in the defeat at Grimsby, but as usual in the Premier League, Amorim looked to his new wide players in Cunha and Mbeumo, who was brilliantly denied by Dubravka in the first half after a pacy counter-attack.
Amad also could have added to United’s advantage in the first half, with a stunning volley tipped away by Dubravka. He then blazed over unchallenged from close range in a stunning breakaway, while Mount also hit the bar as United enjoyed a good spell.
Sesko eventually came on in the 72nd minute and showed signs of life in the final 10 minutes with two headers. The 22-year-old will be hoping to start his first match in the Premier League after the international break, when they travel to Manchester City.
Hero to zero for Anthony
Anthony, who scored and assisted during Burnley’s win over Sunderland, will be disappointed to let his side down so late on in the game, especially after such a vital intervention earlier on.
Alongside Foster, Anthony helped Burnley produce a strong performance in the second half at Old Trafford, with United unable to cope with their approach.
They created plenty of chances in their search third consecutive win in all competitions, following their midweek victory over Derby County in the EFL Cup, with Foster even seeing a goal disallowed after a narrow offside call.
A potential worry for Parker, however, could come in the form of the experienced Walker at right-back, with many of United’s attacks coming down the left as they seemed to target his side of the defence.
Mbeumo’s goal came from down United’s left as Burnley struggled to deal with a lofted Bayindir pass and also found it difficult against United’s set-pieces in general.
Burnley face another tough test in Liverpool after the break, but Parker has seen more than enough promise from his side to be confident in taking on the reigning champions.
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