Bournemouth 2 Man Utd 2
The Cherries welcomed Man Utd to the Vitality Stadium, looking to complete a league double over the Red Devils for the first time in the club’s history. Erik ten Hag’s side were looking to build on a draw with rivals Liverpool, which seriously dented The Reds’ title ambitions.
That said, in the main, Jurgen Klopp’s side had battered United in the game. The only reason they had the opportunity to get something out of it was the visitors inability to take their chances. Lately they have been firing more blanks than the territorial army.
Iraola’s side started to press from the off. Some neat interplay from Solanke and Christie almost created the first goal of the game. As the midfielder tried to play it back into the path of the striker, the United defence did just enough to clear.
The hosts did not have to wait long for that first goal as a comedy of errors presented it to them. A poor touch from Garnacho on the halfway line allowed Senesi to play it into Solanke. As he took the ball around Kambwala, the young defender looked like Bambi on ice as he ended up on the floor.
Credit: @afcbournemouth
Solanke did not waste the opportunity as he drilled a shot from the edge of the box into the bottom corner with Onana unable to do anything about it. This was the sort of defending that had seen Liverpool open them up more than a supermarket door.
It was Bournemouth who were looking like a top six side as they played some neat passing moves with ten Hag’s players just spectators. Sinisterra twisted and turned before getting a shot away, which narrowly missed the far post. So close to doubling their lead.
Kambwala then won the ball on the halfway line, seemingly going straight through Solanke to do so. The hosts protested that they should have been awarded a free kick but Man Utd pressed forward. The Cherries just could not clear their lines and were at sixes and sevens.
Some poor defending saw the ball break to Fernandes on the edge of the six yard box and he had time to control it before volleying into the back of the net. It was schoolboy stuff from Andoni Iraola’s side. Having just been named ‘manager of the month’, the Spaniard will not be happy with what he saw.
Solanke then slotted the ball through to Ouattara in the box but the midfielder dragged his shot wide of the far post. Bournemouth had created enough chances to have scored at least three goals in the first half. You started to wonder if they would pay the price for this poor finishing.
It was just too easy for The Cherries to pick their way through this Man Utd defence. Kluivert found himself in acres of space, cut into the box and still no challenge was forthcoming. He drilled a shot to the near post and restored the hosts’ lead.
Credit: @premierleague
Moments later Bournemouth had a great chance to add another. Kerkez met the cross with his head, only to see his effort come back off the crossbar. The ball came back to him but he seemed to have his eyes closed as he headed it harmlessly over the goal.
Kerkez then worked the ball into the box and it was met on the volley by Kluivert. Onana made a good reaction save to keep his side in this game. Iraola must have been scratching his head wondering where his players had left their shooting boots.
Just before the break, Fernandes tried his luck from distance. With Neto rooted to the spot, the ball crashed against the crossbar and went over. This was a warning to the hosts that if they did not take their chances they would be punished.
Just as it seemed the players were the main focus of the game, the referee said ‘hold my pint’. Mainoo shot from outside the box, but his effort was blocked by a Bournemouth player. It then rebounded onto the upper arm of Smith and the official immediately pointed to the spot.
It was a strange decision, The Cherries’ defender had so little time to react and you have to wonder where he is supposed to put his arm. It seemed to be in a completely natural position yet VAR opted to not overrule the on-field decision.
Fernandes stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way as he equalised for the visitors. It is five goals in as many games now for the Man Utd skipper. He was digging his side out of trouble most weeks now, much to the relief of Erik ten Hag.
Bournemouth were awarded a penalty with less than a minute remaining. However, a VAR review decided the challenge happened outside the box. The home fans were raging with being denied a chance to take all three points.
The two sides shared the points but Iraola had good reason to feel hard done by. The penalty awarded to the visitors was highly contentious, as was the decision to give them a free kick and not a spot kick at the end of the game.
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