Everton 2-2 Man Utd: Ainsley Maitland-Niles scores outrageous stoppage-time equaliser to earn dramatic draw
Report and free match highlights as Man Utd twice led but fell to a late Ainsley Maitland-Niles leveller in a dramatic draw; 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
Sunday 6 September 2026 17:07, UK
Manchester United were held to a pulsating 2-2 draw with Everton at the Hill Dickinson after leading twice but conceding to an outrageous 95th-minute leveller from Ainsley Maitland-Niles on his Toffees debut.
Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko were out to prove just how indispensable ruthless forwards are in the Premier League, scoring at the start and end of the second period to steer Man Utd to what looked likely to be their first away victory. Mbeumo's solo effort 61 seconds after the restart was of the highest order.
Everton, meanwhile, have been reduced to a strike-force of just one - Thierno Barry - following what Jamie Carragher called a "disastrous" transfer window. The 23-year-old accumulated more xG value than any other player on the pitch but failed to land a single effort on target. In the end, that did not matter.
Tyrique George responded with a stunner of his own, beating Senne Lammens with a vicious strike at his near post. And Maitland-Niles had the final say with a special goal after Sesko headed Man Utd ahead for the second time in the 88th minute.
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David Moyes' side might be light on strength in depth but his squad does not lack scorers. Both George and Maitland-Niles joined this summer and look to be inspired bits of business, with Jack Grealish's reintroduction in the second half also providing the spark the hosts lacked in the first.
Maitland-Niles is the first player to score on his Everton debut since Richarlison in August 2018. Timed at 95:11, his equaliser was the latest goal ever scored at the Hill Dickinson and means Man Utd have conceded twice in every league outing so far.
Key moments from the Hill Dickinson Stadium
8: CROSSBAR! Bruno Fernandes rattles the woodwork on the volley from Mbeumo's clever header.
22: CHANCE! Marcus Rashford delivers a clever ball across the box which drops nicely to Cunha on the edge, but he steers off target.
43: BIG CHANCE! Everton get the final ball right from Merlin Rohl, but Barry gets his header all wrong.
45+3: TACKLE! Branthwaite rescues Everton, as United find space and Fernandes looks to release Cunha into the box but Branthwaite comes across with a fine recovery challenge.
47: GOAL! Mbeumo finds the bottom corner with a classy finish after a mazy run.
83: GOAL! George puts his laces through a powerful strike to beat Lammens at his near post.
88: GOAL! Shaw joins in down the left and hangs up a brilliant cross that is met by Sesko with a powerful header from seven yards out.
90+5: GOAL! Maitland-Niles from 25 yards!! His first-time strike is controlled and curled perfectly into the top corner.
Watch all the goals
Moyes vows to make 'small squad' work
Everton boss David Moyes:
"For periods we played well. I thought Man Utd played better than they have done in their other games.
"The first goal we concede is shabby. But I thought if anyone was going to go on and win the game after we equalise it would be us. I set out to win.
"For us, to give the crowd moments, it was a big moment. But I wanted to win and I thought we were capable of winning. I need to win my home games.
"You don't plan as a manager to equalise in the last minute. But I thought the boys did amazing to keep running. We did well to ride their pressure and we got the great finish to end.
"Sometimes when you've got less players, it means everyone has to be ready. Players on the fringes are going to have to show why they deserve to be involved. When you've got a small squad you have to find a way to make it work."
On Maitland-Niles: "The technique. The goalkeeper hardly moved. We haven't had much of a chance to get to know Ainsley yet, and his role. It'll take a bit of time."
