Manchester United secured a much-needed first victory of the season for their beleaguered manager, Ruben Amorim, but it took a 97th-minute Bruno Fernandes penalty to defeat newly promoted Burnley 3-2.
After being knocked out of the League Cup by fourth-tier Grimsby on Wednesday, the Red Devils twice surrendered the lead at Old Trafford on Saturday.
However, they were saved in stoppage time when Fernandes, who missed a penalty in last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Fulham, converted from the spot after a VAR review for a pull on Amad Diallo.
The victory takes United to four points from their opening three Premier League games and eases the pressure on Amorim ahead of the two-week international break.
The 20-time English champions had faced their biggest embarrassment under Amorim’s reign in midweek, losing to a League Two side for the first time in the club’s history. The Portuguese coach had cast doubt on his future after the loss, stating that “something has to change” and that he would “think things through.”
Amorim made a significant change to his lineup, dropping goalkeeper Andre Onana after his role in both Grimsby goals.
Meanwhile, the club’s new £74 million ($100 million) striker, Benjamin Sesko, started on the bench for the third consecutive Premier League game.
United began the match looking to atone for their recent performance. Burnley’s Martin Dubravka did well to deny Bryan Mbeumo an early opener before a VAR review overturned a penalty awarded to United when Mason Mount went down under a challenge from Kyle Walker.
United’s only previous Premier League goal of the season had come from an opposition player when Fulham’s Rodrigo Muniz scored an own goal.
Amorim’s team once again needed an own goal to break the deadlock when Casemiro’s header ricocheted off the bar and into the net off the unfortunate Josh Cullen.
United should have extended their lead before halftime, but Diallo sliced a huge chance wide after a pass from Mbeumo.
Burnley, which had barely threatened in the first half, easily opened up United’s defense to level the score in the 55th minute. Lyle Foster stretched to meet Jacob Bruun Larsen’s pinpoint cross and guide it into the net.
United, however, retook the lead almost immediately from the kick-off. Mbeumo’s slick movement allowed him to get away from his marker to meet a cross from Diogo Dalot and score the Frenchman’s first Premier League goal since his £65 million move from Brentford.
Burnley’s set-piece opportunities and United’s goalkeeping issues continued to be a problem. Burnley and Foster were denied a second equalizer by the finest of margins for offside against the South African international.
Instead, it was Jaidon Anthony who leveled the score when Altay Bayindir could only parry Loum Tchaouna’s effort back into the middle of the goal.
In search of a winner, Amorim finally brought on Sesko for the final 15 minutes. The towering Slovenian twice headed chances off-target. In the end, it was Fernandes who came to the rescue after a lengthy VAR check confirmed Anthony’s pull on Diallo had continued inside the box.
The agonizing defeat leaves Burnley with three points from their first three games.
