Toffees denied late penalty as Red Devils rescue a point

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Everton were denied a penalty late on as Manchester United came from two goals down to rescue a point in an enthralling Premier League clash at Goodison Park.

The in-form Toffees dominated the first-half and deservedly raced into a 2-0 lead courtesy of goals from Beto and Abdoulaye Doucoure.

But Ruben Amorim’s side, who have now won just four of the 15 league games since the Portuguese manager took charge in November, produced an improved performance after the break and levelled the scores through impressive strikes from Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte.

The hosts then had a penalty decision overruled by VAR deep into stoppage time, much to the dismay of boss David Moyes.

The result moves a resurgent Everton up to 12th, while United remain in 15th spot.

How the action unfolded

Both managers opted for a more casual dress for the early kick-off, with Moyes donning a black sweater, while Amorim sporting a rather retro-looking hoodie.

But the visitors looked a far cry from the United side of old as, from the off, Everton very much looked like the team in form. Their energetic high-press continually put a United side low on confidence under increasing pressure.

And the Toffees’ hassling almost paid dividends inside five minutes when Everton dispossessed United on the edge of their own box only for Beto’s tame header was straight at Andre Onana.

Despite looking vulnerable, Amorim’s side then went close when Patrick Dorgu cut the ball back to Rasmus Hojlund after an incisive United move but his toe-poke was saved by Jordan Pickford.

On 19-minutes, however, it was the resurgent hosts who struck first, Beto lashing the ball into the net after United failed to clear from a corner.

Amorim cut a notably frustrated figure on the touchline with United again looking set for another difficult afternoon.

And, sure enough, things went from bad to worse for United when Doucoure doubled the lead for the dominant Toffees when he reacted quickest after Onana parried Jack Harrison’s effort.

Everton would have made it three in first-half stoppage time were it not for Noussair Mazraoui, who blocked Doucoure’s low cross with Beto ready to tap home.

United needed a resurgence of their own if they were to have any hope of salvaging something from the game.

While there was an improvement after the break, Amorim’s side continued to offer little going forward, with Hojlund, who has failed to find the net in 16 games, an almost anonymous figure up top.

The hosts, meanwhile, looked hungry for a third. The impressive Doucoure nearly put the game to bed when his volley was saved brilliantly by Onana.

But just as United seemed to be on the ropes, they were given a lifeline when Fernandes, who had dropped further back as a deep-lying playmaker, sent a stunning 20-yard free-kick into the far corner.

Suddenly it was game on. And, eight minutes later, it was all square when Ugarte’s powerful strike beat Pickford at full stretch.

What seemed a highly unlikely scenario at half-time had happened. With 10 minutes of the game remaining, it was now United in the driving seat.

But there was to be more drama in this topsy-turvy encounter on Merseyside. Beto had another chance late on before Everton were initially awarded a penalty when substitute Ashley Young went down in the box.

Referee Andy Madley pointed to the spot but, following a lengthy VAR check, his decision was overturned, much to the dismay of Moyes.

For United and Amorim, the result will do little to alleviate the pressure mounting on the Portuguese manager. For Everton, despite the controversy surrounding the overturned spot-kick, it will feel like two points dropped.




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