Manchester United secured a much-needed first win of the Premier League season, beating newly promoted Burnley 3-2 at Old Trafford on Saturday. The victory came courtesy of a 95th-minute penalty from captain Bruno Fernandes, who redeemed himself after missing a spot-kick in the previous match against Fulham. The win provides a crucial lifeline for manager Ruben Amorim, whose team had been under immense pressure following a disappointing start to the season and a recent League Cup exit.
United began the match looking to bounce back from its humiliating defeat to fourth-tier Grimsby Town. The dominant hosts took a deserved lead in the 27th minute after a Josh Cullen own goal. However, their profligacy in front of goal nearly proved costly. Burnley managed to level the score early in the second half through Lyle Foster, but United quickly responded, with Bryan Mbeumo scoring his first league goal for the club to restore the lead less than two minutes later.
The nerves at Old Trafford began to set in when Burnley's Jaidon Anthony capitalized on a goalkeeping error from Altay Bayindir, who had replaced the benched Andre Onana. Anthony's goal in the 67th minute leveled the scores once more, threatening to prolong United's winless start. The Red Devils' struggles with set-pieces and goalkeeping continued to be a major concern, keeping Burnley in the game despite United's overall dominance.
With the clock ticking down and the match seemingly headed for a draw, a late VAR review turned the tide. A foul on substitute Amad Diallo inside the box was awarded, giving United a golden opportunity to snatch a win. Bruno Fernandes stepped up to the spot, coolly sending the ball into the bottom corner and sparking a mix of relief and celebration at Old Trafford.
The three points move United to four points from their first three league games, temporarily easing the pressure on manager Ruben Amorim. After the match, Amorim acknowledged the team's struggles but praised their fighting spirit. "It is three points, if you look at the game, we should solve it in the first half, but we are fighting to the last minute because of things we over complicate," he said, adding, "We have a lot to do, but we returned a little bit to our level today."
