Manchester United 0-0 Burnley: Sides Play Out Amazing Draw That Had Reds for Manager and Player

Published on: 28 October 2016

Manchester United and Burnley played out an entertaining goalless draw which saw both Mourinho and Herrera sent off.


Jose Mourinho would have hoped to get back to winning ways in the league with what could be seen as the first of an easy run of games.


United started the half off full of exuberance and confidence from their 1-0 midweek win over rivals Manchester City in the EFL Cup.

There were plenty chances for the reds and the first came to the enigmatic Swede Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who could only fire into Heaton's hands when Marcus Rashford's clever run opened up space.


The opening exploits were largely in United's favour and they got another opportunity in the seventh minute when a classy one-two between Ibrahimovic and Rashford created space in the box, only for Mata to direct Rashford's lay off straight down the keepers throat.


10 minutes in and Burnley were still chasing shadows as Mata was allowed to pull strings in midfield. After the Spaniard's ball into the boxwas cleared by Keane, Ibrahimovic could only balloon the loose ball over the bar from 20 yards out.

It seemed like Heaton was the only keeper playing and he made his presence known 19 minutes in to stand tall andsave a one-on-one with Ibrahimovic after hewas put through by Rashford.


Burnley's first opportunity came after 20 minutes when Vokes tried a spectacular 30 yard effort that sailed far wide.


But Heaton was on duty againshortly after as Ibrahimovic and Mata linked up beautifully to give Mata space 20 yards out, only for the England stopper to block the Spaniards shot at the bottom corner.

Burnley's best chance of the half came after 30 minutes after Keane connected with a corner in the six yard box only for the tame effort to trickle wide.


That chance sparked life into this Burnley side asGudmundsson fired afirst time loose ball from Wards cross at goal, only for the effort tobounceinto David de Gea's arms.


United continued to create chances though and the next bit ofmesmericplay was between Pogba and Ibrahimovic which created a chance for the Frenchman,onlyfor hisgoal boundeffort to be headed clear by BenMee.

The last chance of the half went to United again only for the Burnley goalkeeper to make his best stop yet. Herrera whipped a ball into the box which found Jesse Lingard who directed a header into the top corner but Heaton got to it to make a great stop.


The half ended in drama as United had a penalty appeal waved away.Darmian bursts into the box and JonFlanagan dangled his leg out but Mark Clattenburg was unmoved by the Italian's fall.


The second half started how the first left offwith bundlesof entertainment, but the first came with Mourinho being sent to the stands after a heated exchange with Clattenburg at half time.

The first chance went to Burnley as they went on adevastating counter-attack that left a straight race between Gray and Shaw only for the defender to make a superb last minute tackle.


They had another chance shortly after when a Burnley free kick fell to Arfield18 yards out, but he could only volley into the stands.


United soon after began to dominate and should have been ahead. Another one-two with Ibrahimovic put Mata through and heshould have scored from12 yards out but Heaton made another wonderful save.

Less than five minutes later and Heaton made his save of the game. After a ball is hung up at the far post, Ibrahimovic connected magnificently with a scissor kick but the Burnley keeper put his body on the line to make a sensational stop.


United hit the bar twice in a minute after an hour had passed as Mata's low effort drilled against the post and Ibrahimovic's looping header hit the top of the crossbar.


United's task got much more difficult in the 68th minute when Herrera was shown his second yellow for a careless challenge on Marney.

The chances kept coming for United and the pressure was incredible. Rooney had the final clear chance of the game after replacing Lingard when a smart free kick left him with a shot unmarked and12 yards out but the United captain agonisingly fired over.


Luke Shaw, Daley Blind and Ibrahimovic all had good chances to make United's overwhelmingdominance count but they couldn't put the ball into the net.


It ended all square at the final whistle, but the game had everything. That could be the best goalkeeping performance and goalless draw that the Premier League will see in a long time.


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