Manchester United squandered another opportunity to move into the Premier League top five after being held to a chaotic 4-4 draw by Bournemouth in an extraordinary contest at Old Trafford.
Both sides led at different stages of a breathless encounter that saw momentum swing repeatedly, before Bournemouth teenager Eli Junior Kroupi struck late to deny the hosts all three points.
United went ahead early through Amad Diallo, who benefitted from Ruben Amorim’s tactical tweak that pushed him into a more advanced role.
The hosts dominated the opening exchanges, registering six shots in the first 10 minutes, their fastest such start in the league since October 2022.
Bournemouth responded and the game opened up, with United holding a narrow 2-1 advantage at the break.
Second-half momentum swings
United’s lead evaporated within seven minutes of the restart as Evanilson and Marcus Tavernier turned the game on its head for the visitors.
The response was immediate. Bruno Fernandes curled in a free-kick before Matheus Cunha struck just two minutes later to restore United’s advantage in dramatic fashion.
Late sting from Bournemouth
Just as United appeared to be edging towards victory, 19-year-old Kroupi fired home six minutes from time to level the scores once again.
Bournemouth nearly completed the turnaround in stoppage time, but Senne Lammens produced two sharp saves to deny David Brooks and preserve a point for the hosts.
Costly draw for United
The draw leaves United outside the top five, while Bournemouth remain 13th and extend their winless run to seven matches, despite a resilient performance in one of the season’s most dramatic games.