AFC Bournemouth 1-1 Manchester United
Rasmus Højlund’s injury-time goal rescued a point for Manchester United, as 10-man Bournemouth suffered a setback in their bid for European qualification.
Andoni Iraola’s side looked poised for victory after Antoine Semenyo struck his 11th goal of the season midway through the first half.
However, the match turned on a controversial moment when Evanilson’s challenge on Noussair Mazraoui was upgraded from a yellow to a red card following a VAR review. The Brazilian, who appeared to slip while pressing the Manchester United defender, will now serve a three-match ban after referee Peter Bankes changed his original decision.
Manchester United pressed for an equaliser and found it late on. After Mason Mount’s deflected effort, Højlund reacted quickest to turn in Manuel Ugarte’s shot from close range, following a setup by Luke Shaw.
The result moves Ruben Amorim’s side up to 14th in the Premier League, though their focus now shifts to Thursday’s Europa League semi-final first leg against Athletic Bilbao.
More problems for Manchester United
For Bournemouth, the late goal is a heavy blow. They remain behind Fulham and Brighton in the race for eighth place — a position that could offer a route into next season’s UEFA Conference League if Crystal Palace fail to win the FA Cup.
Rasmus Højlund’s late equaliser was a cruel blow for Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, especially as he and his staff were convinced Evanilson’s red card was harsh.
The loss of two vital points — coupled with Evanilson’s suspension, ruling him out until the final game of the season against Leicester — could be decisive in derailing Bournemouth’s hopes of qualifying for Europe for the first time in their history.
It’s a harsh reality for a club whose rise has been remarkable. Just 15 years ago, Bournemouth were climbing out of League Two — a level that Doncaster and Port Vale, promoted this weekend, have only just returned to.
The progress since then has been undeniable, both on and off the pitch. Owner Bill Foley is now planning a major expansion of the Vitality Stadium, aiming to increase its capacity to 20,000 in the next couple of years.
Still, the financial gap remains vast. Bournemouth’s matchday revenue in the accounts to June 30, 2024, was £6.53 million — a fraction of Manchester United’s £137.13 million. Yet Bournemouth continue to punch above their weight.
On the field, they looked the more complete team. Dean Huijsen and Milos Kerkez were superb at the back, Alex Scott kept the midfield ticking, and they were clinical in both boxes — a sharp contrast to United.
Kepa produced a stunning reaction save to deny Alejandro Garnacho after the Argentine latched onto a sweeping Bruno Fernandes pass. Meanwhile, Antoine Semenyo’s crisp finish came after Manchester United were caught trying to play out from the back, with Patrick Dorgu winning the ball and delivering a dangerous cross.
Even after Evanilson’s sending off, Bournemouth showed the grit and resilience needed to cling onto their lead with a historic European berth within touching distance. But in the final moments, Højlund shattered their hopes.
The resilience Amorim’s side showed to keep going and claim their point will offer some solace before such a big fortnight for the United head coach. Hojlund has now scored two in eight games which, if not quite free scoring, should at least provide some confidence before the Bilbao games when goals, from anywhere, will be so precious.
Teenager Chido Obi is still to score and though he was denied late on by Kepa, it is asking too much for a 17-year-old to lead an attack at his level, meaning Hojlund has a massive role to play. But overall, it was another of those occasions when Amorim’s team looked less than the sum of their parts.
