A few days after their stunning comeback against Roma, United almost did it… all over again. In the match of the year, the Red Devils, with wild counterattacks, salvaged a point against Aston Villa, secured a 4-4 draw, and avoided falling to the bottom of the standings, remaining in 18th place. It’s their worst performance since 1986; no one knows if Carrick will stay, but these… spirited counterattacks are giving Manchester a much-needed breather.
A thrilling first half full of tension, twists and turns, and an incredible pace unfolded at Old Trafford, with Manchester United coming back from the… brink of defeat after trailing 0-2 and heading into the locker room with the score tied (2–2) against Aston Villa.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
It was a nightmarish start for the Red Devils, as they found themselves down by two goals within the first four minutes. In the 2nd minute, Allison, and in the 4th minute, Jackson took advantage of Lamens’ poor positioning to give their team a significant lead. The “Reds” made history, as this was the first time in their Premier League history that they had found themselves down by two goals so early in a match. And yet, United responded perfectly to the boos and grumbling from the stands.
With Bruno Fernandes scoring from the penalty spot in the 16th minute and Tielemans finding the back of the net (44’) against his former team, United managed to level the score, electrifying the crowd at Old Trafford. Following their impressive Champions League match against Roma midweek, Carrick’s team gained momentum and could even have taken the lead given the chances they created.
Hell, heaven, and then… hell again! Yes, United conceded two goals in just 3 minutes and 40 seconds in the first half, while in the second half it took just 7 minutes and 15 seconds for their net to be breached twice more. Unbelievable, yet it happened: in the 48th minute, Dalot brought down Jackson, and McGinn scored to make it 3–2. In the 53rd minute, Goretzka capitalized on a mistake by Joro and made it 4-2.
United fought hard, refused to let the game slip away, and… won yet another battle. With Zirkzee pulling one back in the 90+1’ and Dorgu in the 90+6’, they completed a crazy comeback, preventing the team from dropping to last place, giving them some breathing room, and keeping them in 18th place. However, they have the worst defensive record among teams in Europe’s top five leagues, having conceded a total of 30 goals in all competitions this season.
Highlights of the match
*photo source: AP
