Maitland-Niles scores dramatic late equaliser as Everton draw with Manchester United

Ainsley Maitland-Niles scored a stunning equaliser with virtually the final kick of the game on his Everton debut to earn a 2-2 Premier League draw against Manchester United at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

The substitute struck a first-time effort from 30 yards in stoppage time, cancelling out Benjamin Sesko’s 88th-minute header and preserving Everton’s unbeaten start to the season.

Manchester United had twice taken the lead but were unable to hold on to victory. Bryan Mbeumo put them ahead early in the second half before Tyrique George levelled for Everton with a powerful finish.

Sesko then appeared to have secured all three points for the visitors, only for Maitland-Niles to deliver a spectacular finish at the death.

United have four points from their opening three games and sit 11th in the Premier League table. Everton are eighth with five points from the same number of matches.

“It felt like a win,” Maitland-Niles, who joined Everton from Lyon on Tuesday, told Sky Sports. “We dug deep and managed to get a point in the end. The crowd were with us and we were fighting to the end and that’s why you get these results.

“It’s amazing, everyone wants to start off like that and thankfully I did. The ball fell to me on the edge of the box, I put my foot through it and it ended up in the top corner which I’m happy about.”

United will regard the result as two points dropped after producing enough moments to win the match and leading on two occasions. Bruno Fernandes also struck the crossbar in the first half.

However, Everton created the greater number of attacking openings on target and continued to press for a result. Their persistence offered evidence of the resilience they may need during the season, particularly with a wafer-thin squad following a heavily criticised transfer window.

Matheus Cunha fired over from a promising position for United, while Everton’s best opportunity of the first half fell to Thierno Barry.

Merlin Rohl delivered an excellent cross from the right, but Barry could not keep his free header beneath the crossbar.

United needed only a minute after the interval to take the lead. Mbeumo moved inside from the right before curling a left-footed shot from the edge of the penalty area into the far corner.

Everton remained dangerous, and James Tarkowski produced an excellent last-ditch challenge to prevent Cunha from adding another goal for the visitors.

The hosts then sent on Jack Grealish in the 66th minute as he started a second loan spell on Merseyside. His arrival improved Everton’s attacking cohesion and helped them apply greater pressure in the closing stages.

That pressure eventually produced an equaliser in the 83rd minute. George struck a fierce shot beyond Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens at the near post.

Sesko restored United’s advantage five minutes later when he headed in Luke Shaw’s cross, leaving Everton facing a late defeat.

But Maitland-Niles ensured the visitors would not leave with victory. The ball fell to him on the edge of the area and his fierce first-time strike flew into the top corner, prompting celebrations as Everton rescued a point with the final kick of the contest.