#2 United fail to capitalise on superb start
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Manchester United started off the game in superb fashion and came close on several occasions, especially during the first few minutes of the game.
A series of exchanges and some lovely interplay by the Red Devils in the middle of the park – cue Michael Carrick – offered a host of goal-scoring chances to Paul Pogba, Zlatan, Anthony Martial and Wayne Rooney.
Bournemouth offered space and time to both Zlatan and Pogba, not to mention gilt-edged chances through two horrendous back passes – one by Tyrone Mings and the second by Harry Arter. Indeed it was nothing short of a miracle that the fixture remained goalless for over 20 minutes, considering the kind of superb attacking game United were playing.
It typified Jose Mourinho’s side on the day, as Zlatan failed to turn in from a couple of yards when Artur Boruc had left the posts unguarded.
Earlier, latching on to the end of a lovely through ball, Pogba left Bournemouth defenders in their wake but failed to put the ball into the net, sending it wide by a few inches instead. Rooney and Zlatan made quick exchanges while making the run but neither could shoot on target.
The home side continually penetrated the Cherries’ backline but the only thing lacking was an end product. None of the key players took their chances well and the visitors’ inept defending was not capitalised enough upon either.
