Man United concede late goal to drop points against Everton
Sports Desk, Feb 6 (efe-epa).- Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s goal on the last play of Saturday’s Premier League contest at Old Trafford allowed Everton to draw 3-3 with Manchester United.
The stoppage time equalizer capped an impressive second half by the Toffees, who became only the third team in league history to deny United victory in a game where the Red Devils led by two or more goals at half-time.
Edinson Cavani opened the scoring for the hosts in the 24th minute, heading-in a Marcus Rashford cross for his seventh goal since joining Man United on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain.
The 2-0 materialized in the final minute of first-half regulation, when Bruno Fernandes produced a magnificent goal off a pass from Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
The stage was set for United, who pummeled Southampton 9-0 on Tuesday, to add to their lead in the second half, but the Toffees had other ideas.
Four minutes in, Abdoulaye Doucoure took advantage of a miscue by Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea to cut the deficit in half.
James Rodriguez brought Everton level in the 52nd minute with an assist from Doucoure.
But United reclaimed the lead in the 70th minute as Everton keeper Robin Olsen failed to handle Scott McTominay’s header off Luke Shaw’s free kick.
Fernandes sent a free kick just over the cross-bar on a chance to nail down the win in the 81st minute.
Everton won a free kick in front of the United goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time. Lucas Digne lofted the ball into the area, where it bounced off Michael Keane’s head and dropped for Calvert-Lewin.
The result left second-place United with 45 points, 2 less than leaders Manchester City, who also have two games in hand over their cross-town rivals.
The Toffees are sixth on 37 points.
At the other end of the table, Fulham missed another opportunity to climb out of the bottom three, splitting the points with West Ham United in a London derby.
Scott Parker’s men enjoyed 61 percent possession and outshot the Hammers 20-8 under a driving rain at Craven Cottage, but suffered from poor finishing.
The closest either team came to scoring was a header in the 64th minute by West Ham’s Vladimir Coufal that hit the cross-bar.
Deep in stoppage time, the Hammers’ Tomas Soucek accidently elbowed Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrovic in the face as players jostled for position ahead of a West Ham free kick.
After a lengthy VAR review, referee Mike Dean showed Soucek a red card for dangerous play. If the sanction stands, the Czech midfielder will miss West Ham’s next three matches.
The Hammers stay fifth on 39 points, while 18th-place Fulham, who are winless in their last 12 Premier League matches, have 15 points and remain 7 points from safety.
Miguel Almiron scored twice to help Newcastle United win for the second time in their last three Premier League matches, hanging on to beat Southampton 3-2 despite playing the final 16 minutes with nine men.
Joe Willock put the Magpies ahead in the 16th minute, converting a pass from Allan Saint-Maximin, and Almiron doubled the advantage 10 minutes later with an inadvertent assist from Southampton defender Jan Bednarek.
