In one of the most entertaining matches of the English Premier League season, Manchester United squandered a two-goal lead, went back in front through an exquisite shot from Wayne Rooney and then conceded a 90th-minute goal to draw 3-3 at Newcastle United on Tuesday.
The thriller at St James’ Park might briefly silence the many critics who have been criticizing United’s often ponderous style of play, but that is likely to come as little comfort to under-pressure coach Louis van Gaal, whose side slipped to sixth place in the standings.
“It feels like a defeat,” said Van Gaal, who acknowledged before the game that even he was “very bored” during some United matches. “We have given it away.”
Photo: Reuters
A positive for United was the performance of Rooney, who scored twice, set up the other goal by Jesse Lingard and put in an impressive all-round performance. He has four goals in three matches this year, having struggled for form in the first half of the season.
Last-placed Aston Villa collected their first victory since the opening day of the season, beating Crystal Palace 1-0 courtesy of a goalkeeping error by Wayne Hennessey.
The Wales international let Joleon Lescott’s header slip through his grasp and over the line, ending Villa’s 19-game winless run and giving the team renewed hope of surviving relegation.
Villa provisionally are eight points from safety.
West Ham United came from behind to beat AFC Bournemouth 3-1, with Enner Valencia scoring twice and fit-again playmaker Dimitri Payet scoring the other goal for the visitors.
West Ham moved into fifth place, above Manchester United.
With Newcastle struggling for goals of late and United seemingly restricted by Van Gaal’s suffocating approach, few would have foreseen their end-to-end match. It was a throwback to many of the exciting games in former coach Alex Ferguson’s reign at United.
Rooney’s ninth-minute goal from the penalty spot set the tone, before the England striker led a counterattack that ended with Lingard scoring with a low shot.
Goals by Georginio Wijnaldum and Aleksandar Mitrovic, also from a penalty, brought Newcastle level, only for Rooney to restore United’s lead by curling home a screamer from outside the box in the 79th minute.
With seconds left of regulation time, United failed to clear their lines and Paul Dummett advanced to fire in a fierce shot from the edge of the area that deflected into the top corner.
“It is the best feeling in the world,” the Newcastle-born Dummett said.
United play their biggest rivals, Liverpool, on Sunday.
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