Unai Emery’s Frustration as Aston Villa Let Manchester United Back In

Aston Villa were seconds from taking a remarkable win at Old Trafford. Instead, two late Manchester United goals turned a 4-2 lead into a 4-4 draw—and Unai Emery headed down the tunnel before the final whistle.

United had trailed by two in the second minute of injury time. Joshua Zirkzee pulled one back, then Patrick Dorgu headed in the equaliser in the 96th minute. Emery appeared to leave in frustration before the VAR check had confirmed Dorgu’s goal, and before the match was over. He was therefore not there to shake hands with United boss Michael Carrick.

The late collapse came after Villa had twice looked in control. Alysson and Nicolas Jackson scored inside the first five minutes to give the visitors a 2-0 lead. But Matheus Cunha was fouled in the penalty area by Boubacar Kamara, and Bruno Fernandes converted from the spot to begin United’s response.

Youri Tielemans then scored his first goal for United against his former club to make it level before half-time. Villa restored their two-goal advantage after the break: John McGinn scored a penalty after Diogo Dalot fouled Alysson, and Leon Goretzka added another with a close-range finish after further United defending faltered.

At 4-2, Villa appeared poised to see out the game. Zirkzee’s goal in the 92nd minute changed the mood, and Dorgu completed the comeback four minutes later. Villa goalkeeper Zion Suzuki had come off his line and failed to reach the ball before Dorgu headed into an empty net.

The draw leaves United 18th in the Premier League, still in the bottom three heading into the international break. Their late recovery followed a comeback victory against Roma in midweek, a run of results that may help Carrick’s position, though the Old Trafford side remain in danger near the foot of the table.

Villa are 10th. Had they held on, they would have climbed to eighth. Instead, a match that began with two goals in the opening five minutes ended with Emery leaving the pitch early and his side surrendering a two-goal injury-time lead.