United beat Burnley 3-2 with a 97th-minute Bruno Fernandes penalty.
Manchester United finally claimed their first Premier League win of the season, but it came dramatically. A 97th-minute Bruno Fernandes penalty secured a 3-2 victory against newly-promoted Burnley, saving under-pressure coach Ruben Amorim from yet another embarrassment.
The late goal came just days after United’s humiliating exit from the League Cup to fourth-tier Grimsby, a loss that had raised serious questions about Amorim’s future.
United had gone into the game with only one Premier League goal so far this season, and even that came from an opponent’s own goal. Amorim, looking for a reaction, dropped Andre Onana after his costly midweek mistakes and once again benched record signing Benjamin Sesko.
The changes brought some early energy. Casemiro’s header forced the opener when the ball bounced off the bar and into the net via Burnley’s Josh Cullen. Amad Diallo later wasted a golden chance to double the lead before halftime.
Burnley, quiet in the first half, came alive after the break. Lyle Foster slid in to meet Jacob Bruun Larsen’s cross and made it 1-1. But almost instantly, Bryan Mbeumo struck his first goal for United since joining from Brentford, restoring the lead.
United’s fragile defending, however, let Burnley back in again. Goalkeeper Altay Bayindir spilt Loum Tchaouna’s effort, allowing Jaidon Anthony to level at 2-2.
With time running out, Amorim turned to Sesko, but the big striker wasted two headed chances. Just when it looked like United would drop more points, VAR intervened. Anthony was judged to have pulled Amad Diallo inside the box, handing United a stoppage-time lifeline.
Bruno Fernandes, who had missed from the spot a week earlier against Fulham, calmly buried his penalty to secure the win.
The three points lifted United to four from their opening three league games, easing the heat on Amorim heading into the international break. For Burnley, who fought bravely, it was a painful defeat that left them on the same tally of three points.
