September 9: 2-2! Why Did Manchester United Concede an Equalizer in the 96th Minute? Carrick Reveals the Reason After the Match

In the sixth minute of stoppage time, the area in front of the penalty box was left with plenty of space. Niles fired a powerful shot, sending the ball straight into the top corner.

The three points Manchester United had secured turned into one point in that very moment.

On September 6 Beijing time, Manchester United faced Everton away and experienced a dramatic match. Leading twice and being equalized twice, the 2-2 draw saw United fall to 11th place in the Premier League table after the third round.

With one win, one draw and one defeat for four points, another statistic stood out more than the points total: Manchester United have conceded two goals in each of their first three league matches of the new season.

Long-time fans may have found the script familiar. The last time Manchester United conceded two goals in each of their opening three league matches was the 2020/21 season.

Looking further back, this was only the second time in nearly 50 years that the team had suffered such a poor defensive start.

Manager Carrick looked serious in front of the cameras after the match and used “very disappointed” twice to describe his feelings. He said the team had made great efforts to fight until the end, but the result felt like a defeat, with three points turning into an undeniable one point.

Asked whether the team had a mentality problem, Carrick gave a clear answer: there was no issue with mentality. He said the opponent's two goals were high-quality long-range shots from outside the box into the top corner, with an element of chance and difficult to save.

As a manager, it is understandable to calm the team during a post-match press conference, but the word “chance” cannot hide Manchester United's defensive issues in the details.

Rewatching the final goal conceded, Manchester United's fitness clearly dropped late in the match and midfield coverage decreased significantly.

The substitutions still failed to close the defensive gaps. After taking the lead, protection in front of the box was too loose, allowing Niles to adjust, aim and shoot comfortably.

The long-range strike was indeed excellent, but no defender stepped up to apply pressure. This goal was no longer simply about chance, but the cost of a loss of defensive concentration.

This explains why fans were frustrated after the match. Manchester United's attacking performance was not poor, and following the previous 5-2 win over Ipswich Town, their attacking threat was sufficient.

Just one minute after the second half began, Mbeumo escaped challenges outside the box before cutting inside and scoring with his left foot to give Manchester United the lead. The goal continued an interesting statistic: since joining Manchester United, Mbeumo has scored 13 Premier League goals, and United remain unbeaten with 10 wins and 2 draws in matches where he scores.

This match was also Rashford's milestone 300th Premier League appearance. Although he did not score himself, he created many threats.

In the 62nd minute, Rashford made a series of breakthroughs to create a chance for Cunha. In the 69th minute, both Rashford and Cunha were substituted, with Dorgu and Sesko coming on. Carrick confirmed after the match that Rashford was taken off because he felt some physical discomfort, while also praising his sharp tempo and strong partnership with Luke Shaw on the left side.

Substitute Sesko headed in Luke Shaw's cross in the 88th minute, making it seem that Manchester United had secured all three points.

Looking back at the match, the contest was extremely tight and physical. Just three minutes after kickoff, Maguire injured his nose during an aerial challenge and received treatment from the medical staff.

The referee also allowed a relatively physical style of play. In the 10th minute Everton's Barry went down in the box without a penalty being awarded; in the 37th minute Manchester United's Lima also went down inside the area without a decision. Cunha later fell in the second half, but the referee again took no action.

With that pace, both teams wasted opportunities. In the 8th minute B. Fernandes' volley hit the crossbar, and in the 21st minute Dalot's powerful volley was blocked by a defender.

For Everton, Barry headed over before halftime, and Hall's shot in the 60th minute was saved by Lammens. It was not until the 82nd minute, when Hanick assisted George for a powerful long-range goal, that the home side, who had started with one win and one draw in the first two rounds, launched their comeback.

Carrick was pleased with the team's quality central combinations and Mbeumo's goal from the right side. However, the problem was that no matter how well they attacked, the defense continued to suffer problems.

The lack of defensive reinforcement during the summer transfer window has now become a real issue on the pitch. Looking back at the six goals conceded in the first three rounds, Manchester United have experienced defensive breakdowns from counterattacks, set pieces and long-range shots.

A lack of control over details during the match, difficulty managing games after taking the lead, and insufficient preparation for Everton's late push ultimately cost them. Everton, playing at home, earned five points from one win and two draws and sit eighth.

Carrick remained confident at the end of the press conference, saying the start to the new season was not as bad as people thought, that victory was only one step away, and that the team would review and improve.

But the Premier League does not rely on verbal reassurance alone. Mbeumo's goal helped Manchester United maintain an unbeaten record, but if the defensive problems are not solved soon, the road ahead will become increasingly difficult.