Manchester United stage dramatic late comeback to draw 4-4 with Aston Villa

Manchester United scored twice in injury time to salvage a remarkable 4-4 draw against Aston Villa at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Michael Carrick’s team looked set for another defeat after falling 4-2 behind, but Joshua Zirkzee reduced the deficit in the second minute of added time before Patrick Dorgu headed an equaliser deep into stoppage time.

The result leaves United 18th in the Premier League with eight points from their opening 10 matches. Aston Villa, who had been unbeaten in their previous five top-flight games, are 10th on 13 points.

Villa made the perfect start when Alysson gave them the lead in the first minute. After a slick exchange of passes around the edge of the United penalty area, he shot through the legs of Senne Lammens.

Nicolas Jackson doubled Villa’s advantage three minutes later, reacting quickest after Lammens had parried an effort and calmly finishing while the United defence failed to respond.

United were given a route back into the match in the 16th minute when Boubacar Kamara brought down Matheus Cunha. Bruno Fernandes converted the resulting penalty, leaving referee Chris Kavanagh with little option but to point to the spot.

The hosts gradually began to impose themselves. Diogo Dalot saw a 25th-minute effort deflected narrowly wide, while Villa goalkeeper Zion Suzuki was tested repeatedly from set pieces and crosses.

Suzuki needed both hands to prevent a deflected Kobbie Mainoo effort from looping beneath the crossbar. He then went down well to keep out a low cross from Fernandes before tipping Ahmed Musa’s close-range effort around the post.

Musa fired narrowly wide in the 37th minute and forced another save from Suzuki seven minutes later. United’s pressure eventually produced an equaliser just before half-time, when Youri Tielemans struck a left-footed shot into the Villa net.

Harry Maguire was replaced by Ayden Heaven at the interval, but United fell behind again three minutes into the second half. Dalot’s needless challenge on Alysson resulted in a penalty, which John McGinn converted in the 48th minute.

Villa extended their lead five minutes later. After a scramble in the area, during which Lenny Yoro nearly turned the ball into his own goal, Leon Goretzka kept his composure to make it 4-2.

Tielemans missed the chance to score again when he fired wide just after the hour mark. Carrick then sent on Mason Mount, Patrick Dorgu and Shea Lacey for Tielemans, Dalot and Musa.

Lacey, who had impressed after coming on in the Champions League, delivered a dangerous cross with almost his first touch. Matheus Cunha later tested the Villa defence, while Fernandes sent an effort high into Row Z.

After Fernandes struck the post with a clipped effort, Dorgu crossed in the second minute of injury time and Zirkzee finished from close range to make it 4-3.

Villa goalkeeper Suzuki then failed to deal with a late corner, allowing Dorgu to rise highest and head home the equaliser, completing United’s dramatic recovery.