Everton 2-2 Man Utd: Maitland-Niles Scores Dramatic Late Equaliser on Debut
- Ainsley Maitland-Niles scored an outrageous stoppage-time equaliser on his debut to rescue a 2-2 draw for Everton against Manchester United at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sept 6,...
- Benjamin Sesko looked to have secured all three points for the visitors with an 87th-minute header before Maitland-Niles struck from 30 metres out, Reuters reported.
- "It felt like a win," Maitland-Niles told Sky Sports after the match.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles scored an outrageous stoppage-time equaliser on his debut to rescue a 2-2 draw for Everton against Manchester United at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sept 6, according to Sky Sports and Reuters. The dramatic finale lifted the mood on Merseyside following a difficult week that saw the club face heavy criticism over its transfer business.
Stoppage-Time Thunderbolts and Merseyside Drama
Benjamin Sesko looked to have secured all three points for the visitors with an 87th-minute header before Maitland-Niles struck from 30 metres out, Reuters reported. The right-back, who joined Everton from Lyon on Sept 1, unleashed a first-time effort that flew into the top corner in the sixth minute of added time.
Maitland-Niles Snatches Dramatic Debut Point
“It felt like a win,” Maitland-Niles told Sky Sports after the match. “We dug deep and managed to get a point in the end. The crowd were with us and we were fighting to the end and that’s why you get these results.”
The encounter saw Manchester United take the lead twice through Bryan Mbeumo and Sesko. Michael Carrick admitted to ESPN that the result “feels like defeat.” Mbeumo opened the scoring just a minute into the second half by driving in from the right flank and beating Jordan Pickford with a low left-footed strike.
Late Goals Undermine Manchester United’s Lead
Everton fought back when substitute Tyrique George scored a thunderous equalizer from a narrow angle in the 82nd minute, capitalising on a loose touch by Lisandro Martinez. Though Sesko restored United’s lead shortly after from a Luke Shaw cross, Maitland-Niles had the final say to preserve Everton’s unbeaten start to the Premier League campaign.
Transfer Window Fall-Out Tests David Moyes
The chaotic finish overshadowed ongoing concerns regarding Everton’s squad depth following a turbulent transfer window. Manager David Moyes admitted he had “to live with disappointments” but insisted to The Guardian that “no excuses” would be made and that his players must “muck in” despite a threadbare squad.
Defensive Vulnerabilities Plague Carrick’s Side
According to Sky Sports, pundit Gary Neville expressed fears that the club’s defensive liability of conceding goals is not going away anytime soon. United currently sit 11th in the Premier League table with four points from three matches, while Everton occupy eighth place with five points.