BRUNO FERNANDES provided crucial relief for under-pressure Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim with a dramatic stoppage-time penalty securing a 3-2 victory against Burnley.
The Manchester United captain converted from the spot seven minutes into added time after a lengthy VAR review determined that Burnley’s Jaidon Anthony had fouled Amad Diallo inside the area.
This late intervention prevented another damaging result for Amorim following United’s humiliating League Cup defeat against fourth-tier Grimsby earlier in the week.
The Portuguese coach had admitted after that loss that he sometimes considers quitting and often hates his players.
United initially took the lead in the 26th minute through fortunate circumstances when Casemiro’s header struck the crossbar and rebounded off Burnley captain Josh Cullen into the net.
Lyle Foster equalised for the promoted side ten minutes after half-time with a finish from Jacob Bruun Larsen’s cross.
Bryan Mbeumo restored United’s advantage just fifteen seconds later by slamming home Diogo Dalot’s cutback for his first league goal since arriving from Brentford.
Jaidon Anthony brought Burnley level again in the 66th minute before his late foul on Diallo resulted in Fernandes’ decisive penalty.
Thomas Frank suffered his first Premier League defeat as Tottenham manager with a 1-0 loss against Bournemouth at home.
Evanilson’s fifth-minute deflected shot proved enough for Bournemouth to secure their second victory of the season.
Chelsea benefited from VAR controversy to defeat Fulham 2-0 and move top of the table with seven points from three games.
Fulham had a first-half goal by Josh King disallowed after VAR deemed Rodrigo Muniz’s accidental collision with Trevoh Chalobah constituted a foul.
Joao Pedro put Chelsea ahead beyond the scheduled eight minutes of stoppage time at the end of the first half.
The Blues sealed victory through Enzo Fernandez’s penalty after Ryan Sessegnon was adjudged to have handled a cross following another VAR intervention.
Jack Grealish starred in Everton’s 3-2 victory at Wolves, contributing to all three goals with assists for Beto, Iliman Ndiaye and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
Newcastle recorded their second 0-0 draw of the season at Leeds while still awaiting their first win.
Sunderland staged an impressive comeback to beat Brentford 2-1 at the Stadium of Light with Wilson Isidor scoring a stoppage-time winner. – AFP