In a match of the third round of the English Premier League, Everton hosted Manchester United at home. The match, played on 6 September 2026, ended in a goal-filled and dramatic draw: the hosts equalised twice and ultimately saved a point in the final seconds of the game. The final score was 2-2, with the decisive goal coming from a strike by the Toffees' summer signing Ainsley Maitland-Niles in the 90+6 minute.
Match flow: an even first half and a guest surge after the break
The first half was evenly contested and goalless — both teams played cautiously and did not allow each other to create many dangerous chances. The picture changed immediately after the break: in the 46th minute, Brian Mbeumo broke down the flank and opened the scoring with a precise shot, putting the Red Devils ahead. After conceding, David Moyes' side threw everything into attack and restored parity in the 83rd minute — Tairik George smashed the ball into the visitors' net.
Maitland-Niles' masterpiece in the 90+6 minute
The hosts' joy was short-lived: in the 88th minute, Benjamin Sesko capitalised on an Everton defensive error and put Manchester United back in front. It seemed the visitors would take all three points, but in the 90+6 minute Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who had joined the club in the summer transfer window, delivered an incredible strike from outside the box and hit the top corner, earning the Toffees a lifeline in the form of a draw.
Mykolenko played the full match
Ukrainian defender Vitalii Mykolenko started the match in Everton's lineup in his usual position as left-back and played all 90 minutes, remaining one of the key players in defence in a match where his team had to come from behind twice.
Teams' position in the table
After three rounds, Everton has 5 points, while Manchester United has 4. Both teams are still positioned in the middle of the Premier League table, so the draw in this encounter did not change their overall standing in the upper part of the season.
