Ruben Amorim experienced another roller-coaster of emotions as Manchester United manager as Bruno Fernandes converted a stoppage-time penalty to secure a 3-2 win over Burnley in the Premier League and maybe keep his coach in a job.
Amorim, under massive pressure after an in midweek, couldn’t even watch as Fernandes slotted the spot kick home in the seventh minute of added-on time at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Earlier, United had squandered the lead twice against Burnley — one of the favorites for relegation — and was heading for a draw that would have left Amorim in a precarious position going into the international break.
Amorim was under pressure after United exited the League Cup at the hands of fourth-tier Grimsby Town, after which he and suggested discussions would be held about his position.
If those negotiations take place, Amorim goes into them in a slightly stronger position even if major doubts remain over his ability to get United — one of the world’s biggest clubs — back to its previous heights.
United took the lead first through an own-goal and then Bryan Mbeumo but let in an equalizer each time.
It was a first win of the season for Amorim’s team following a 1-0 loss to Arsenal and a 1-1 draw at Fulham, with that embarrassing display at Grimsby thrown in.
United next plays against Manchester City in the derby. It remains to be seen if Amorim, who has been in charge for a turbulent 10 months, will still be around for that.
Chelsea gets help from VAR
Chelsea gained from some contentious refereeing calls in a 2-0 win over west London neighbor Fulham, whose manager Marco Silva struggled to contain his unhappiness.
Joao Pedro gave Chelsea the lead with a header from a corner in the ninth minute of first-half stoppage time, after a minimum of eight added-on minutes had been called.
That further angered Silva, who was already furious that his team’s 21st-minute goal by 18-year-old Josh King was ruled out after a VAR review deemed Rodrigo Muniz to have stamped on the foot of Trevoh Chalobah as he shielded the ball in the build-up.
Silva resorted to laughing sarcastically early in the second half when Chelsea was awarded a penalty for handball against Ryan Sessegnon following another video review, which highlighted two potential infringements — a push and a handball — by Joao Pedro in the build-up.
After a long delay, Enzo Fernandez converted the spot kick down the middle in the 56th.
“For someone that loves football as a manager, a former football player, as a fan sometimes when I just watch a game, I feel sad, really,” Silva said when asked for his views on the refereeing decisions. “Just that.”
Chelsea, the Club World Cup champion over the summer, has picked up seven points from a possible nine in its first three games in the Premier League.
Tottenham loses
One of the three 100% records in the Premier League disappeared when Tottenham lost 1-0 to Bournemouth, thanks to Evanilson’s fifth-minute goal.
Liverpool and Arsenal are the other two teams to have collected maximum points from the opening two games and they meet at Anfield on Sunday.
Sunderland scored a goal in the sixth-minute of stoppage time to beat Bournemouth 2-1 and Everton won 3-2 at Wolves.
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