Dorgu equalizer saves United from Villa collapse

Manchester United conceded two goals in the first four minutes of their Premier League match against Aston Villa on Tuesday. By the 96th minute, the score was 4-4 after Patrick Dorgu headed in an equalizer. The draw kept United in 18th place in the league table. Michael Carrick remains the manager following the match.

Alysson scored for Villa just 48 seconds into the game. The shot went through the legs of United goalkeeper Senne Lammens. Nicolas Jackson added a second goal for the visitors four minutes later. Lammens failed to clear an Alysson effort, allowing Jackson to finish the move. United were trailing 2-0 at the 16-minute mark.

Bruno Fernandes converted a penalty in the 16th minute to pull United back to 2-1. Referee Chris Kavanagh awarded the spot kick after Boubacar Kamara fouled Matheus Cunha. Youri Tielemans equalized at the end of the first half. A cross from Noussair Mazraoui found Tielemans, who beat Villa goalkeeper Zion Suzuki. The teams went to the break tied 2-2.

Villa took the lead again in the 48th minute. Diogo Dalot fouled Alysson, and John McGinn scored the resulting penalty. Leon Goretzka made it 4-2 for Villa in the 53rd minute. Leny Yoro headed a free kick from McGinn, forcing Lammens to tip the ball onto the goal frame. Goretzka pounced on the rebound to score.

Carrick made three substitutions in the 65th minute. Shea Lacey, Patrick Dorgu, and Mason Mount entered the game. They replaced Tielemans, Amad Diallo, and Dalot. Dalot was booed by United supporters as he left the pitch. This is a rare occurrence for the home crowd.

Joshua Zirkzee scored for United in the 91st minute of stoppage time. Dorgu headed the final equalizer in the 95th minute of extra time. The ball struck Dorgu’s head and entered the net. Kavanagh blew the full-time whistle shortly after. He also sent off a member of Villa’s technical staff before the match ended.

United have won three games in 15 matches this season. Only one of those victories occurred in the Premier League. That win came on August 30 against Ipswich, a 5-2 result. United briefly occupied 20th place earlier in the day. This happened while Sunderland led Chelsea 1-0 and Liverpool scored at Crystal Palace.

Fans in the Stretford End held up a message to owners the Glazers and Jim Ratcliffe. The sign read: “Your funeral not ours, sell up.” Villa supporters had taunted Carrick with the phrase “Sacked in the morning” before the game. The draw suggests the manager may retain his position for now.

Alysson’s early goals exposed defensive errors by Lammens, Dalot, and Yoro. Carrick praised the team’s response to the Roma victory earlier in the week. He urged his players to build on that momentum. United managed to avoid defeat despite the chaotic start.