An incredible end to the match saw Aston Villa snatch a late winner and Bruno Fernandes miss the chance to equalise from the spot deep into injury time.
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Another epic late drama was witnessed at Old Trafford, but unfortunately for the home side, it was an anti-climax. Manchester United were beaten by a well-drilled Aston Villa side on Saturday as Bruno Fernandes’ late penalty miss added to a disappointing end to their Premier League clash. It was the first league defeat of the season for the Red Devils, as Villa’s Kortney Hause headed home the only goal of the game in the 88th minute. Couple of minutes later, United had a golden chance to rescue a point, as a handball presented Fernandes with a spot-kick chance. But the ever-reliable Portuguese midfielder, unfortunately, skied the 12-yard shot into the crowd. This was a second straight home defeat for the Reds after losing 0-1 to West Ham United in the Carabao Cup in midweek.
On the back of the midweek disappointment, Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had reverted back to his league XI that had beaten West Ham in London last Sunday. However, United struggle to cope with Villa’s high pressing and stubborn defence. Despite the home side finishing with a star-studded line-up of Cristiano Ronaldo, Edinson Cavani, Mason Greenwood, Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba, they were not able to threaten the opponent’s goal enough.
In an end-to-end start to the game, Fernandes struck a bouncing ball over the cross bar from a Luke Shaw cross. Then Ronaldo hit one wide from distance, while Greenwood was a lively threat on the right flank. Despite the positive start, it was Villa who came close to open the scoring. Matt Cash got past Shaw down the left and his cross was surprisingly put over the bar into the Stretford End from only three yards out by Matt Targett.
The home side then almost caused their own downfall when Harry Maguire delivered a poor back pass to David De Gea. The Spaniard, with full stretch, could only prod it out to Ollie Watkins. But De Gea stood tall to deny the goal scoring chance. Soon, an injured Shaw had to be replaced by Diogo Dalot.
The visitors again came close through a 39th-minute Ezri Konsa header from a corner. The Red Devils, however, ended the half strongly, as Pogba’s reaction header agonizingly flew wide off the post.
The home side endured a torrid opening to the second half, as a confident Villa side pegged United back with high pressing and quick ball movement. Captain Maguire, who had appeared to have suffered a leg injury, couldn’t carry on and was replaced by Victor Lindelof after 66 minutes.
With nothing to separate the teams, Solskjaer brought on Cavani in the 81st minute for Scott McTominay. But before getting involved at the attacking end, the Uruguayan was called to defend a corner in the 88th minute. However, he was guilty of not effectively marking Hause, who headed the only goal of the game at the near post from that corner.
Deep into injury time, Fernandes’ cross was glanced on by Cavani and the ball hit Villa scorer Hause on the arm. Referee Dean pointed to the spot, as the Old Trafford crowd erupted in joy. But the ever-reliable Fernandes struck his spot-kick high over the bar into a shell-shocked Stretford End. United now have 13 points from six league matches, while Villa have 10 from the same number of games.
