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Fernandes reflected on the entertaining passage of play that saw Diallo go down calling for a foul, which fell on deaf ears as the Cherries netted on the counter.
Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes celebrates scoring during an Premier League soccer match against AFC Bournemouth, Friday, March 20, 2026, in Bournemouth, England. (Andrew Matthews/PA via AP)
Bournemouth held Manchester United to a 2–2 draw at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday in a Premier League clash. United’s goals came from a Bruno Fernandes penalty and an own goal, while Ryan Christie and Junior Kroupi found the net for the hosts. The match also saw Harry Maguire sent off.
Around the hour mark, Matheus Cunha won a penalty for United after being fouled by Alex Jiménez inside the box. Fernandes converted confidently, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way and placing the ball into the bottom corner.
Controversy followed soon after when Amad Diallo appeared to be fouled in the area, but the referee allowed play to continue. Bournemouth capitalized immediately on the counterattack, with Christie finishing past Senne Lammens to level the score.
United skipper Bruno Fernandes reflected on the entertaining passage of play that saw Diallo go down calling for a foul, which fell on deaf ears as the Cherries netted on the counter.
“Obviously we had a situation where we could have gone 2-0 up. And then we end up conceding a goal, not getting a penalty, and then we get a penalty against where more or less it’s the same situation as Amad.”
“One is rewarded as a penalty, the other one not. I know it’s difficult for the referee to give two penalties in the same game for the same team, but what I don’t understand is why VAR doesn’t get involved in that situation.”
“Or either way in the situation of Harry [Maguire]because either one is a penalty and the other one too, or none of them is a penalty.”
“I think Amad is getting to a point where he’s going to shoot and he gets pushed or pulled. I can’t exactly see how it happens, but you can see that is there something that gets him completely out of balance?”
“And obviously, I think it’s very frustrating for the small players because they always say he’s very soft on the small players and when he’s in a bigger player, they say they end up giving the false.”
“I do think that on the red card situation, it is a penalty, but I think either one is also a penalty and obviously that could have changed the game.”
United regained the lead shortly afterward when James Hill inadvertently turned the ball into his own net from a corner, restoring their advantage.
However, the game shifted again when Harry Maguire was sent off for a foul on Evanilson inside the penalty area, with the referee awarding Bournemouth a spot kick. Kroupi stepped up and powerfully converted the penalty with about ten minutes remaining, securing a draw for the Cherries.
The result takes Manchester United to 55 points from 31 matches, placing them four points ahead of fourth-placed Aston Villa, who have a game in hand. Bournemouth, managed by Andoni Iraola, move up to 10th with 42 points from 31 games.
United Kingdom (UK)
March 21, 2026, 08:12 IST
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