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A coach’s fortunes can change in an instant and when Abdoulaye Doucouré took shape to convert Alex Iwobi’s cross in the 94th minute at Goodison Park, Ole Gunnar Solskjær should have feared the worst. An Everton equalizer called but Doucouré produced an aerial shot. United broke down and substitute Edinson Cavani sealed a precious victory with his first goal for the club seconds later. Solskjær was able to breathe easily again.
United’s seventh consecutive away win in the Premier League, equaling the club record set by Sir Alex Ferguson’s team in 1993, was orchestrated by Bruno Fernandes and reinforced the view that Solskjær’s team is better equipped to thrive in his travels than at Old Trafford. Fernandes scored twice and led the breakaway that ended with the Uruguayan international converting the third with the final kick of the match. For Everton, a third consecutive loss in the league made their start to the season a distant memory.
Solskjær headed to his bench with a look of resignation as his team’s strong exit was interrupted by Bernard’s early start, but his response by falling behind will have emboldened him. It was not the reaction of a team lacking in commitment or in disagreement with a manager’s instructions. United controlled the opening exchanges with crisp, one-touch passes and repeatedly stretched their hosts with clever moves. And that was precisely how they came from an initial deficit to lead two goals from Fernandes at halftime.
The Norwegian was not the only manager looking to improve after two defeats that had slowed his team’s momentum. Ancelotti was in a similar position, minus the pressure or the questions, and made six changes to the defeated team in Newcastle last weekend. The return of James Rodriguez, Seamus Coleman and Mason Holgate from injuries, making their first season start to replace Yerry Mina, marked both the national team and the rancid performance at St James’ Park. Bernard also got a first start to the Premier League campaign and claimed the decision with a spirited display (he was the only midfielder in royal blue to do so) and an excellent opening goal. From their perspective, that is. For United, he was another example of the weak defense that regularly undermines their brilliant work at the opposite end of the field.
Jordan Pickford, called up to the starting lineup as Ancelotti had promised after his Newcastle bench, launched an upfield punt to Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Everton No. 9 easily won the aerial challenge against Victor Lindelöf (he would intimidate the middle half throughout the game) and passed Bernard. Aaron Wan-Bissaka hesitated in the challenge, a fatal error, and the Brazilian made a low shot between the legs of the winger and just inside David de Gea’s right post. Solskjær looked like a manager who had seen such lapses too often.
United, however, drew in style six minutes later. Ancelotti sensed danger as soon as Everton lost possession in midfield and chided his players for allowing the visitors to pass through too easily. They never got close to a red shirt. Juan Mata released Luke Shaw down the left and his center was delivered to perfection between the Everton centrals. Fernandes, with his unbridled career, stepped into the gap between Michael Keane and Holgate to beat Pickford with a magnificent header.
It should have been the second of United’s game, but Anthony Martial blew a gold-edged opportunity with only Pickford to beat moments before Bernard attacked. The second came from a similar source, orderly combinations that opened up Everton’s right flank before Fernandes converted, although this time the Portuguese international’s finish was completely accidental. Marcus Rashford, grateful for his work on the school meal vouchers by the Everton Fan Forum before kickoff, found Fernandes in the space to the left before diving into the area for the return ball. The cross went past his head, but he also beat Pickford from inside the second post.
Everton’s best chance for a second had come and gone when they were left behind. Bernard sent Lucas Digne running into the United penalty area with a cheeky reverse pass. Calvert-Lewin was unmarked in front of goal, but the left-back took the shot himself and hit the outside of De Gea’s first post with an angled shot. The forward was not amused and would be hungry for service in front of goal at all times.
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Pickford was about to give United a third when, while trying to collect a free kick from Mata, he dropped the ball at Harry Maguire’s feet after a light push from the defender. Maguire shot the half-chance over the crossbar before being kicked in the chest by the Everton goalkeeper, although the VAR decided there would be no penalty. Maguire himself was lucky enough to escape punishment for a great challenge at Digne within the area. He caught the ball and the defender’s ankle, but the game was stopped for an offside against Calvert-Lewin in preparation.
Doucouré missed two excellent chances to equalize late at Everton and was punished when Cavani took advantage of a Fernandes pass to beat Pickford from close range.
