Goodison Park, Liverpool – February 22, 2025
In a dramatic Premier League encounter at Goodison Park, Manchester United staged a late comeback to salvage a 2-2 draw against a resurgent Everton side managed by David Moyes.
The match, which marked United’s final league visit to the historic venue before Everton’s move to their new Bramley-Moore Dock stadium, was a rollercoaster of emotions, with late goals and VAR controversy stealing the headlines.
Everton, buoyed by their recent upturn in form under Moyes, took a commanding 2-0 lead in the first half.
Striker Beto opened the scoring in the 19th minute, capitalizing on a defensive lapse to fire past André Onana.
The Toffees doubled their advantage just before the break when Abdoulaye Doucouré headed home from a well-delivered Jack Harrison cross, sending the home crowd into raptures and leaving United reeling.
Read Also;
Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United, languishing in 15th place in the league standings, appeared disjointed and out of sorts in the opening 45 minutes.
The Red Devils struggled to create meaningful chances, with Everton’s aggressive, front-foot approach—honed by Moyes since his January return—stifling their attack. However, the second half saw a revitalized United side emerge from the tunnel, determined to turn the tide.
The comeback began in the 72nd minute when captain Bruno Fernandes stepped up to take a free-kick just outside the Everton box.
With precision and finesse, the Portuguese midfielder curled the ball over the wall and beyond Jordan Pickford’s reach, igniting hope among the traveling United faithful.
The goal shifted the momentum, and United pressed forward in search of an equalizer.
Their persistence paid off in the 80th minute when Manuel Ugarte, the Uruguayan midfielder, unleashed a stunning weak-foot strike from the edge of the penalty area.
The ball rocketed into the net, leveling the score at 2-2 and sparking wild celebrations among the United players and fans.
It was a moment of redemption for Ugarte, who had been under scrutiny for his performances since joining the club.
The drama, however, was far from over. In the dying moments of the match, Everton thought they had won a penalty when a United defender appeared to foul Beto in the box.
Referee Michael Oliver initially pointed to the spot, but a lengthy VAR review overturned the decision, ruling that the contact was insufficient.
The call left Everton players and fans fuming, with Moyes visibly frustrated on the sidelines as his side dropped two crucial points.
Speaking after the match, Moyes lamented the late collapse: “We were in complete control at 2-0, but you can’t switch off against a team like Manchester United.
The penalty decision at the end is hard to swallow—it’s a remarkable call, and it’s cost us the win.”
Meanwhile, Amorim praised his team’s resilience: “The first half was embarrassing, but the character we showed to come back from 2-0 down shows what this group is capable of. We’re still a work in progress.”
The result leaves Everton in 14th place with 31 points, while Manchester United remain in 15th with 30 points, both sides languishing in mid-table amid inconsistent campaigns.
For Everton, the draw feels like a missed opportunity to build on their recent resurgence, while United will take heart from their second-half fightback as they look to climb the table under Amorim’s guidance.
Discussion about this post