Bournemouth Stuns Manchester United With Victory At Old Trafford

Bournemouth delivered a stunning 3-0 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford.

This victory marks the second consecutive season that the Cherries have claimed all three points from the Red Devils in their backyard, a feat that highlights the contrasting fortunes of the two clubs as they head into the Christmas break.

A Tale of Two Seasons

As Bournemouth made the long journey to Manchester, they arrived with a three-point cushion above the struggling United, who were reeling from a disappointing exit in the EFL Cup quarter-finals just days earlier, having lost to Tottenham Hotspur.

From the start, the home crowd was hopeful that their side would break the trend of conceding first, having done so in five consecutive matches.

However, their optimism was quickly dashed when Bournemouth capitalized on a set-piece opportunity just before the half-hour mark. Ryan Christie delivered an inswinging free-kick that was met by Dean Huijsen, whose glancing header found the back of the net, marking his first Premier League away goal.

United’s Struggles Continue

As the match progressed, United’s frustrations grew. Huijsen nearly turned from hero to villain when he lost possession deep in his half, but Chelsea loanee Kepa Arrizabalaga came to the rescue, making a vital save to deny Bruno Fernandes.

Despite the close call, the home side went into the half-time break trailing, and manager Ruben Amorim knew he had to make changes to turn the tide.

Just nine minutes into the second half, Amorim called for attacking reinforcements, introducing Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Højlund in hopes of sparking a comeback.

However, the task became increasingly daunting when Noussair Mazraoui was penalized for a clumsy challenge on Justin Kluivert, leading to a penalty for Bournemouth. Kluivert, who had previously scored three penalties in a single match against Wolves, calmly converted the spot-kick, sending United’s goalkeeper Andre Onana the wrong way.

A Night to Forget for Manchester United

Just two minutes later, the situation went Just two minutes later, the situation went from bad to worse for United. Antoine Semenyo added a third goal for Bournemouth, slotting home from a cut-back by Dango Ouattara.

Despite the scoreline, United did manage to prevent further humiliation, with Kepa Arrizabalaga making a few key saves to maintain the 3-0 deficit. Semenyo’s fifth goal of the season capped off a fantastic performance for Bournemouth, who have now won four of their last five matches.

The victory propels them into fifth place in the Premier League, igniting hopes of European qualification.

A Season to Forget for Manchester United

As Bournemouth celebrates their remarkable achievement, Manchester United finds itself in a precarious position. Sitting in 13th place, the club is enduring a campaign riddled with disappointment and underperformance.

With Christmas approaching, Bournemouth will head into the festive period with optimism, while Manchester United faces a long road ahead to regain their footing in the league.