Dominic Solanke became Bournemouth’s all-time top scorer in the Premier League in a 2-2 home draw with Manchester United, who hit back twice to earn a fortunate point courtesy of a classy Bruno Fernandes double.
The home side should have been further ahead in the first half at the Vitality Stadium as they swarmed all over the visiting goal, with Solanke netting his 17th of the season to give them a merited lead on 16 minutes via a powerful drive.
Fernandes levelled with a venomous volley from close range on 31 minutes, only for Justin Kluivert to restore the home side’s advantage with another fine finish five minutes later after more sloppy United play.
It was left to Fernandes to rescue an unlikely point for Erik ten Hag’s team on 65 minutes when he tucked away a penalty after Adam Smith handled Kobbie Mainoo’s deflected shot.
United remain seventh behind Newcastle on goal difference with one win in their past seven league matches with Bournemouth in 12th after finishing a Premier League season unbeaten against the visitors for the first time.
Player of the Match: Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)
United are a hard watch these days, but they managed to scramble a draw from a torrid evening due to the creative magic and quality of their Portuguese captain, who was also unfortunate to see a long-range effort come off the bar in the first half.
Player Ratings
Bournemouth: Neto 6, Smith 6, Zabarnyi 7, Senesi 7, Kerkez 8, Cook 7, Christie 7, Sinisterra 6, Kluivert 7, Ouattara 7, Solanke 8 Subs: Kelly 6, Faivre 5, Unal 6, Aarons 6
Manchester United: Onana 6, Wan-Bissaka 7, Maguire 7, Kambwala 7, Dalot 6, Casemiro 6, Mainoo 6, Rashford 6, Fernandes 8, Garnacho 5, Hojlund 6 Subs: Amad 6, Mount 6
Match Highlights
16′ GOAL! (SOLANKE) BOURNEMOUTH 1-0 MANCHESTER UNITED Brilliant finish from the home striker to wallop a low drive into the net from outside the box. Garnacho lost the ball, Kambwala then slipped and the former England striker did the rest. His 17th of the campaign, a new club record for Bournemouth.
31′ GOAL! BOURNEMOUTH 1-1 MANCHESTER UNITED (FERNANDES) Just when United thought they might ship a second goal, they go up the other end to make it 1-1. A clinical volley from captain Bruno after the ball broke nicely to him eight yards out. Powerful finish. No chance for Neto. Harsh on home side, but United won’t care.
36′ GOAL! (KLUIVERT) BOURNEMOUTH 2 MANCHESTER UNITED 1 United pay the penalty for failing to close down space as Kluivert smashes home his eighth goal of the season as Onana dived in vain low to his right. Pace on that finish did for him. Senesi with the pass. Home side deservedly back in front.
43′ SO CLOSE TO A THIRD BOURNEMOUTH GOAL! Adam Smith with another fabulous cross for Kerkez to head down and into the ground. Ball spins up and off the bar with Onana beaten before Kerkez nods over on the rebound. United hanging on by their fingertips here.
45+8′ BRILLIANT HIT BY BRUNO BEFORE BREAK Neto is off his line to claw away the Bruno corner before the United captain unleashes a superb shot from distance, but the ball comes off the top of the bar and spins over. Neto wouldn’t have reached that.
65′ GOAL! BOURNEMOUTH 2-2 MANCHESTER UNITED (BRUNO FERNANDES) Superb penalty is converted by Bruno to send Neto the wrong way from the spot after Smith clearly handled in the area from the deflected Mainoo shot. Smith looks crestfallen, but VAR confirms the decision. 2-2 then out of nowhere.
90+4′ PENALTY TO BOURNEMOUTH! THEN FREE-KICK IS AWARDED! Would you believe this? Late drama as Kambwala is guilty of a foul on Christie as he raced through. A clear body check. Was it inside or outside the area? Referee awarded a pen, but VAR cleared it up. Looks right on the line.