Manchester United were saved some blushes as Old Trafford when Bruno Fernandes converted a stoppage-time penalty to deliver a 3-2 win over game Burnley on Saturday.
MORE — Ruben Amorim reaction
The visiting Clarets twice equalized at Old Trafford but Manchester United found a late winner from the spot, to give some relief to Ruben Amorim.
WATCH — Manchester United vs Burnley full match replay
Now about that injury to Matheus Cunha. The Red Devils lost the Brazilian to an apparent leg injury in the first half, and Mason Mount joined him at the break. Amorim did not have an update but was “so, so concerned” about any potential absence.
The Red Devils led 1-0 through an own goal and then 2-1 through Bryan Mbeumo before Fernandes’ winning penalty. Lyle Foster and Jaidon Anthony scored for Burnley.
Man United move to 1-1-1 on the season while Burnley slip to 1-0-2.
A very Man United route to victory with a heaping helping of Cunha worry
The match could’ve been 4-0 at halftime and probably should’ve been at least 2-0 at halftime, but former Man United loanee Martin Dubravka was so strong in the first half and nearly pulled off a miracle save to keep it scoreless. The goal was even a great microcosm of modern Man United, as the Red Devils hit the cross bar, saw the ball hit an unwitting Claret, and still was nearly pulled from crossing the line only to be awarded via the Goal Decision System. United were so much better than Burnley but didn’t put them away, as the stats show a 26-6 gulf in shot attempts, 62% possession, and a 3.54-1.20 xG blowout for Amorim’s crew. There are some worries about their marking on both Burnley goals, but the bigger worry is Matheus Cunha. It’s become clear early in this season that he’s nearly as crucial as Bruno Fernandes to this team’s success. If he’s out for any period of time, look out — because Benjamin Sesko is still adjusting and Joshua Zirkzee simply looks off the level.
What’s next?
The international break! Then United face two massive names, going to Man City for the Manchester derby on Sept. 14 before returning home for Chelsea on Sept. 20.
Burnley host Liverpool on Sept. 14, then stay at Turf Moor for Nottingham Forest’s visit on Sept. 20.
How to watch Manchester United vs Burnley live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 10 am ET, Saturday
Venue: Old Trafford — Manchester
TV Channel: Peacock
Streaming: Stream live on Peacock
Manchester United vs Burnley final score: 3-2
Josh Cullen o.g. 27', Lyle Foster 55', Bryan Mbeumo 57', Jaidon Anthony 67', Bruno Fernandes pen 90+6'
Manchester United vs Burnley live updates — by Nick Mendola
Bryan Mbeumo reaction
“We knew we had good momentum. We just had to stick together and I think that’s what happened today.”
Different pressure at Man Utd? “It’s a big club so the expectations are high. We need to deal with it but it’s a good feeling to win here.”
“It’s really hard. Everyone expects a lot from us and it’s a really good win today, mentally, and now we’re going to the international break with some rhythm.”
Big after the Grimsby Town embarrassment? “With what happened in the week, we had to present a win and that’s what we’ve done today.”
Good to win for Amorim? “It’s not only for him, it’s for the team. We are all competitors. We want to win as many games as we can and it’s a big one today.”
Bruno Fernandes penalty goal — Manchester United 3-2 Burnley
This has been a long wait for Bruno, who is holding the ball, and the longer the delay, the worse the conversion rate when it comes to penalties.
There are chants of “Bru-no! Bru-no!” before he... scores it!
The most welcome roar of Amorim’s career at Old Trafford? Probably.
Manchester United penalty!
It’s a “sustained pulling action” from Anthony on Amad, and the Red Devils are going to the spot.
Man Utd penalty shout in stoppage
A shirt pull fells Amad Diallo in the box, but it’s not called on the field.
Sam Barrott is being called to the screen!
Man Utd 5 mins stoppage from international break
This is not how Amorim wants to hit the international break at all.
Cunha’s absence has been notable, but the bad defending is yelling louder.
Couple Clarets enter
Oliver Sonne and Joe Worrall are into the game for the final eight minutes plus stoppage, as Hjalmar Ekdal and Bruun Larsen call it a day.
Burnley sub
Ugochukwu exits for Josh Laurent in the 76th minute.
Loum Tchaouna had already come into the match for ex-Man Utd prospect Hannibal Mejbri.
Sesko time, indeed
The Slovenian comes in for Casemiro, and Fernandes will sink back into the midfield again.
2-2, 73'.
Sesko time?
Zirkzee wastes a chance on the rush, and Sesko is putting on his jersey.
Jaidon Anthony goal — Man United 2-2 Burnley
Burnley free kick from the right, and Bayindir can’t catch a scrappy shot through traffic.
Anthony is quickest to the rebound and it’s 2-2 with 23 minutes to go at Old Trafford.
Razor-thin offside Burnley equalizer bid
Lyle Foster rounds Altay Bayindir to make it 2-2 but the flag is up.
The automated animation is almost indiscernable, about as close as you’ll ever see, but Foster is confirmed offside.
Bryan Mbeumo goal — Man United 2-1 Burnley
It takes less than a minute for the Red Devils to answer the equalizer.
Zirkzee feeds Diogo Dalot, who keep the ball off the end line and squares for Mbeumo to smash home from close range with his left foot.
Lyle Foster goal — Man United 1-1 Burnley
It’s almost laughable, the way the Red Devils have found a way to be level when they should be in front of a few.
Jacob Bruun Larsen snaps a cross to the heart of the box, where Lyle Foster lunges to get it over the line.
Leny Yoro was behind Foster, and the young back is pointing in the direction of Casemiro or Luke Shaw.
Someone should’ve dealt with that, surely? It’s 1-1.
Man United sub
Kobbie Mainoo is getting minutes — shop window or not, your call — as Mason Mount exits and Bruno Fernandes pushes into the position we saw him so often last season.
Halftime — Manchester United 1-0 Burnley
The Red Devils seized early control of this match and have not let go of it.
The Cunha injury is the only negative of the half. Perhaps there’s a second negative in that it’s merely 1-0.
Martin Dubravka is the Man of the Match so far with five saves. It was nearly six as it took the Goal Decision System to take a clearance away from Dubravka’s right hand.
Man United possession is 60% and shot attempts are 15-2. The Red Devils have rung up five corner kicks, too.
Amad cannot miss there!
Amad Diallo causes a turnover off Lesley Ugochukwu and the Red Devils go the other way.
Joshua Zirkzee’s pass is a bit ahead of Bryan Mbeumo, but the breaking Cameroonian finds it and slots a pass across for Amad.
It’s coming with pace to the back post but Amad has to put this on target. He doesn’t skewering it high and wide of the upper 90.
Matheus Cunha injury
Oh that’s muscular.
Matheus Cunha’s day is done after 31 minutes, and he’s replaced by Joshua Zirkzee (not Benjamin Sesko).
We’ll share updates on the Brazilian here when they arrive from Manchester.
Burnley own goal — Man United 1-0 Burnley
The breakthrough is in the 27th minute, as Casemiro heads a corner kick toward goal.
It clatters off the cross bar and then back the other way by last week’s Clarets hero, Josh Cullen.
Unlucky moment for Burnley but a well-earned opener for the hosts.
Manchester United penalty — OVERTURNED
Mason Mount and Kyle Walker are jostling outside the box, and it carries into the 18 as the players hit the turf.
The referee points to the spot. Mount was clever to win it, but this will be tough to overturn.
But it is. Referee Sam Barrott says there’s no foul on Walker. Mount had a hold on Walker’s jersey early in the incident but that could’ve gone either way.
Red Devils up for it
Man United already have three shots and two dangerous chances.
Matheus Cunha hit a low ball that was saved by Martin Dubravka early, and Bryan Mbeumo forced a stunning save out of the Burnley keeper in the 14th minute.
Moments later, Mbeumo drags a shot across goal and just misses the far post.
Kyle Walker trivia
Neat little bit of trivia proffered during the pregame involving longtime Spurs and Man City back Kyle Walker.
The Burnley man has won six times as a visitor at Old Trafford, and no player has ever done it seven times.
If Walker makes history, Amorim might be history.
ICYMI: Amorim catching grief for honesty
Ruben Amorim was asked Friday whether he believes his post-match interview have made it sound like he doesn’t want to be at the club.
Amorim pointed out that it’s his personality, but the pull quote was a loud one, “Sometimes I want to quit. Sometimes I want to be here 20 years.”
Manchester United lineup
Bayindir, Yoro, De Ligt, Shaw, Dalot, Fernands, Casemiro, Diallo, Mbeumo, Cunha, Mount
Burnley lineup
Dubravka, Walker,, Ekdal, Esteve, Hartman, Hannibal, Ugochukwu, Bruun Larsen, Cullen, Anthony, Foster
Manchester United vs Burnley preview — by Andy Edwards
Man United (16th place, 1 point) suffered the embarrassment of going out of the League Cup to 4th-tier Grimsby Town on Wednesday, leaving them with just two competitions for the rest of the season and perhaps no more than 37 games left to play between now and the end of May. With a draw and a defeat already in their opening two PL games, suffice it to say that Ruben Amorim could very much use a big win here — and a scintillating performance to match. Bryan Mbeumo did get his first goal for the club in the loss to Grimsby, but new $99-million striker Benjamin Sesko failed to find the back of the net with any of his six shots, goalkeeper Andre Onana had yet another catastrophic incident and all Amorim could say after the game was “I’m really sorry.”
Burnley (11th, 3 points) will be hoping to build on their first win of the season (2-0 over Sunderland) after a heavy defeat in their first game back in the top flight. Captain Matt Cullen had a goal and an assist against Sunderland, while Scott Parker’s defense did what they did nearly every week in the Championship: kept a clean sheet, albeit against another newly promoted side.
Manchester United team news, focus
OUT: Lisandro Martinez (knee), Noussair Mazraoui (hamstring)
Burnley team news, focus
OUT: Zeki Amdouni (knee), Jordan Beyer (knee), Manuel Benson (achilles), Connor Roberts (fitness)
Manchester United vs Burnley prediction
Burnley are going to make life very difficult for United by sitting deep and looking to counter-attack when the Red Devils have overextended themselves (they do have a tendency), not to mention set pieces, but Matheus Cunha is due a breakout game any moment now. Manchester United 2-1 Burnley.
