Manchester United finally secured their first win of the Premier League season, edging Burnley 3-2 at Old Trafford in dramatic fashion thanks to a 97th-minute Bruno Fernandes penalty. The result eases some pressure on manager Ruben Amorim, who had come under heavy scrutiny after a shock midweek exit from the League Cup.
United came into the game desperate to bounce back, and they found themselves ahead in the first half, albeit through a stroke of luck. Casemiro’s header crashed off the bar and ricocheted off Burnley’s Josh Cullen into the net for an own goal. The hosts should have doubled their lead before halftime, but Amad Diallo wasted a golden opportunity from Bryan Mbeumo’s cutback.
Burnley had offered little going forward before the break but found a way back into the match after the restart. Lyle Foster stretched to meet Jacob Bruun Larsen’s precise cross to level the scores in the 55th minute. United, however, hit back immediately when Mbeumo timed his run perfectly to meet Diogo Dalot’s cross and score his first Premier League goal since arriving from Brentford.
Despite regaining the advantage, United’s recurring defensive weaknesses came back to haunt them. Goalkeeper Altay Bayindir could only parry Loum Tchaouna’s strike into the path of Jaidon Anthony, who converted from close range to make it 2-2. The setback forced Amorim to call on big-money signing Benjamin Sesko, who had been left on the bench once again. The Slovenian striker spurned two headed chances to restore the lead.
As the clock ticked into stoppage time, United received a lifeline. A lengthy VAR review determined that Anthony’s tug on Diallo carried into the penalty area, handing Fernandes the chance to atone for his miss against Fulham the previous week. The captain held his nerve to convert from the spot and clinch three crucial points.
The victory moves Manchester United onto four points from their opening three games, a much-needed boost ahead of the international break. For Burnley, it was a cruel end after showing resilience to twice come from behind, leaving them with three points from their first three matches of the season.
