Everton 2-2 Manchester United: George 83, Maitland-Niles 90+6; Mbeumo 46, Sesko 88
Ainsley Maitland-Niles marked his Everton debut with a spectacular stoppage-time equaliser as David Moyes’s side fought back twice to draw 2-2 with Manchester United at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
United looked set to claim victory when Benjamin Sesko headed home in the 88th minute, but Maitland-Niles had the last word. With five minutes of added time played, the deadline-day signing met a loose ball 25 yards from goal and sent a first-time strike into the top corner, leaving Senne Lammens helpless.
The result offered Everton a much-needed lift after a difficult end to the transfer window, but United were left frustrated after twice surrendering the lead.
United had been the side more in control during a largely uneventful first half and came close when Bruno Fernandes met Bryan Mbeumo’s knock-down with a volley that pinged off the crossbar. Matheus Cunha also failed to keep his shot down in the box and missed a promising chance after Marcus Rashford had delivered a low ball across the area.
Everton threatened sporadically, with Thierno Barry heading over from Merlin Rohl’s cross in the home side’s best chance of the first half.
United needed only 62 seconds of the second half to break the deadlock. Kobbie Mainoo found Mbeumo on the right and the forward drove directly towards goal, escaping challenges from Tyrique George and Vitalii Mykolenko before sliding the ball beyond Jordan Pickford.
Everton responded with greater urgency after falling behind. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Harrison Armstrong and Brennan Johnson all had opportunities as Moyes’s team increased the pressure, while James Tarkowski made a crucial intervention to prevent Cunha from tapping Rashford’s back-heel into an empty net.
The equaliser eventually arrived with seven minutes of normal time remaining. Substitute Hayden Hackney picked out George in space and from an acute angle the winger fired into the top corner at Lammens’ near post.
United soon regained the advantage. Sesko began the move by finding Fernandes, who released Luke Shaw down the left. Shaw’s cross travelled beyond Tarkowski and Sesko rose to head the ball towards goal. Pickford got a hand to it but could not prevent the effort from crossing the line.
It seemed United’s striker had settled the contest, but one more twist was on the cards, the ball dropping into Maitland-Niles’ path and the former Arsenal player firing beautifully into the top corner.
