Manchester United’s dream of qualifying for European competition next season suffered a significant blow on Saturday, as they were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by relegation-scrappers Burnley at Old Trafford. Substitute Zeki Amdouni’s late penalty for the Clarets canceled out Antony’s strike, leaving Erik ten Hag’s side fuming and their path to continental competition considerably narrower.
The result puts a significant dent in United’s aspirations of securing European qualification. They remain six points behind fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, who also boast the advantage of two games in hand. Burnley, on the other hand, find themselves clinging to a lifeline in their fight for Premier League survival after this dramatic point.
Despite dominating possession and carving out numerous opportunities throughout the encounter, United initially struggled to penetrate a resolute Burnley defense. The visitors, desperate for points to avoid relegation, set up with a deep defensive block, frustrating the Red Devils’ attacking forays. However, United’s goalkeeper Andre Onana emerged as their savior in the first half, showcasing his agility with several spectacular saves to deny the likes of Lyle Foster and Wilson Odobert.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 79th minute by the in-form Antony. The Brazilian forward, who has been a shining light for United in recent weeks, capitalized on a sloppy Burnley pass. He surged into the penalty area with pace and purpose before coolly slotting the ball past the despairing Burnley goalkeeper Arijanet Muric. The Old Trafford faithful erupted in celebration, with one enthusiastic supporter even throwing a Sonic the Hedgehog toy onto the pitch, which Antony playfully acknowledged by holding it aloft in a moment of joyous celebration.
However, United’s joy was short-lived. Disaster struck for the Red Devils in the 87th minute when a moment of madness from Onana resulted in a costly penalty. The United goalkeeper misjudged a loose ball in the box and collided with Amdouni, leaving the referee with no choice but to point to the spot after consulting the VAR system. The Burnley substitute Amdouni kept his cool from the penalty spot, calmly converting the penalty and snatching a crucial point for his relegation-threatened side.
“The result is massive for us,” Amdouni declared after the match. “We knew coming to Old Trafford would be a tough task, but I believe we deserved this point. Taking a penalty under that kind of pressure in the dying minutes is never easy, but I managed to stay focused and slot it home. We’ve got three games left, and we won’t give up until the final whistle.”
While United dominated statistically with 27 shots on goal compared to Burnley’s 16, their attacking efficiency let them down on the day. Youngster Alejandro Garnacho impressed with his lively performance on the wing, forcing a good save from Burnley keeper Muric with a powerful strike from distance. Ultimately, a costly error by Onana and United’s profligacy in front of goal saw them drop valuable points in their quest for European football.