MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Ainsley Maitland-Niles struck in added time to rescue a 2-2 draw for Everton against Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday.
The deadline day signing came off the bench to make his debut and curled a brilliant long-range shot into the top corner to salvage a point for his new club.
United twice led at Hill Dickinson Stadium through goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko, who looked to have scored the winner in the 88th. But Everton had an answer on both occasions, with Tyrique George also scoring.
“Everybody wants to start off like that,” Maitland-Niles said. “The ball fell to me on the edge of the box. I put my foot through it, it ended up in the top corner, which I’m happy about.”
It was another setback for United, which has just one win from its opening three games of the season after a loss to Hull and victory against Ipswich.
Defensive frailties cost United again as it conceded two goals for the third game running.
Mbeumo fired United in front straight after halftime with a low shot into the far corner. George lashed in a near-post equalizer in the 83rd, but substitute Sesko headed United back in front.
The visitors were seconds away from three points when the ball broke to Maitland-Niles outside the box in the sixth minute of added time and his first-time shot left United goalkeeper Senne Lammens standing.
“We haven’t started the season that bad. It’s not that bad, we’ve got that close to coming away with three points today, that’s football,” United coach Michael Carrick said. “There are moments we can deal with a bit better, but we’ll be fine.
“We’re bitterly disappointed to be up in the position we were in the game twice, so close to the end.
“All the work that went into putting us in that position at different stages to then come away like that – it’s not a great feeling. It feels like a defeat."
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James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson
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James Robson, The Associated Press
