Manchester United snatched a dramatic 1-1 draw against AFC Bournemouth in a pulsating Premier League encounter at the Vitality Stadium, thanks to a stoppage-time equalizer from Rasmus Hojlund. The match, which saw Bournemouth reduced to 10 men after Evanilson’s controversial red card, kept United’s faint hopes of a top-half finish alive while denting Bournemouth’s European aspirations.
Bournemouth, sitting eighth in the Premier League with 52 points, started brightly, buoyed by their impressive campaign and the dream of securing European football for the first time in club history. Antoine Semenyo, who has matched Mohamed Salah with 116 shots in the league this season, was a constant threat and opened the scoring in the 16th minute. The winger capitalized on a defensive lapse from United to fire past Andre Onana, sending the home crowd into raptures.
United, languishing in 15th with just 38 points, struggled to find rhythm. Their recent form—winless in four league games and scoring only once in that span—showed, as Bournemouth’s high-pressing game overwhelmed Ruben Amorim’s side. Despite a few half-chances, including a denied effort from Alejandro Garnacho after a pinpoint pass from Bruno Fernandes, United trailed 1-0 at the break.
The second half saw United push for an equalizer, with Amorim’s tactical tweaks giving them more attacking impetus. However, Bournemouth remained dangerous on the counter, with Dango Ouattara nearly doubling their lead with an audacious effort that saw Onana clatter into the post.
The game’s turning point came in the 62nd minute when Bournemouth striker Evanilson was shown a controversial red card for a challenge deemed reckless by the referee. The decision sparked heated protests from the home side, but it shifted momentum firmly in United’s favor.
With a numerical advantage, United laid siege to Bournemouth’s goal. Kepa Arrizabalaga, the Cherries’ goalkeeper, made several crucial saves to keep his side ahead. United’s persistence paid off in the sixth minute of stoppage time when Hojlund latched onto a loose ball in the box to smash home the equalizer, sparking wild celebrations among the traveling fans.
United dominated the shot count, registering 25 attempts—six on target—compared to Bournemouth’s eight, with just one on target. The Red Devils’ 25 shots marked their highest total in a Premier League match this season, a sign of their attacking intent despite their struggles. Bournemouth, however, showed resilience, particularly when down to 10 men, and nearly held on for the win.
Bournemouth’s hopes of completing a league double over United for the first time in their history were thwarted, though they remain unbeaten against the Red Devils under manager Andoni Iraola. United, meanwhile, avoided a fifth straight game without a win, but their 14th-place standing reflects a challenging season.
Ruben Amorim, whose side faces Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League semi-final first leg on Thursday, praised his team’s resilience: “We showed character to come back. Bournemouth are a good side, and their defending is similar to Bilbao, so we can take positives from this.” He also noted the importance of focusing on the league despite their European commitments. Andoni Iraola expressed frustration at the red card decision but was proud of his team’s effort: “When it was 11 v 11, we were the better side. Even with 10 men, we fought hard. It’s a tough one to take, but we keep pushing for Europe.”