Manchester United welcomed Aston Villa to Old Trafford, starting the match in 19th place in the league.
First half
Old Trafford was in fine voice before the game to protest against the ownership, but the home side found themselves 0-1 down inside just two minutes.
Allyson swept in the visitors’ opener, with Lammens beaten through his legs.
United’s nightmare start continued when the Belgian keeper spilled Allyson’s shot and Nicolas Jackson fired in the rebound. 2-0 Villa.
The Red Devils were shocked but had their first effort after 11 minutes when Bruno Fernandes dragged a shot wide. After 13 minutes, United forced their way back into the game when Matheus Cunha drove at the Villa defence and won a penalty for his side.
Fernandes stepped up and sent Zion Suzuki the wrong way to give United some hope of a fightback. Matheus Cunha almost equalised after 24 minutes, but his fierce curling effort was well stopped by Suzuki.
United kept up the pressure and a deflected effort by Fernandes just dropped wide of the left-hand post. Kobbie Mainoo was next to have a pop, but his effort deflected up into the hands of the Villa keeper.
The Red Devils were now in the mood and both Fernandes and Amad came close to finding a precious equaliser, but Fernandes had a shot saved and the Ivorian’s effort was deflected just wide of the post. After 38 minutes, Amad cut inside and curled an effort just wide as the hosts kept knocking on the door.
The Ivorian was almost on the scoresheet again when he was played in, but his shot was well stopped by the keeper. Finally, on 46 minutes, Youri Tielemans chose the optimum time to score his first United goal, and against his former side to make the goal even sweeter.
The Belgian finished off a sweeping move which brought the Stretford End to its feet. In a match of breakneck speed, Allyson raced in and almost diverted the ball past Lammens, but his toe poke just missed the post.
The referee brought an end to an insane first half, where United came back from two goals down twice in the space of a week.
Second half
United shot themselves in the foot again early on in the half, as Diogo Dalot brought down Allyson in the box and a penalty was awarded.
John McGinn made no mistake and sent Lammens the wrong way to give Villa the lead again. The Red Devils unbelievably found a way to concede a fourth when Leny Yoro headed across his own crossbar and Leon Goretzka tapped in the goal for his first strike in the Premier League.
On 60 minutes, Tielemans had a shot from range, but it fired over the crossbar. United continued to attack and Cunha’s shot was deflected wide of the post.
Mbeumo was the next player to try his luck, and he hit the side netting with a left-footed drive. Cunha cut out the ball from a poor pass by the Villa defence, but his effort was stopped by Suzuki.
The minutes ticked by at Old Trafford and United looked like they were running out of puff. Ross Barkley went on a mazy run, but his shot went right into Lammens’ hands.
The Red Devils came their closest in a while to score when Fernandes played in Mount and his volley hit the crossbar. United responded in the 92nd minute when Patrick Dorgu powered down the left and Joshua Zirkzee fired in the third to breathe some life into the game.
Mount had a glorious chance to equalise when the ball dropped to him in the box, but he leaned back on his weaker foot and blazed the ball high over the bar.
The Red Devils whipped in a cross through Shea Lacey and the ball was flicked out. Patrick Dorgu rose highest to unbelievably head in the equaliser to make it 4-4.
United even had a chance to win it, but Mount blazed his cross wide. The full-time whistle blew on one of the strangest games Old Trafford had witnessed in a while.
Starting XI: Lammens, Mazraoui, Yoro, Maguire, Dalot, Mainoo, Tielemans, Fernandes, Cunha, Amad, Mbeumo
Subs: Heaven, Lacey, Mount, Dorgu, Zirkzee
Featured image by Carl Recine via Getty Images
