Maguire sees red as United is held at Bournemouth
Manchester United defender Harry Maguire was shown a red card for conceding the penalty that led to Bournemouth grabbing a 2-2 Premier League draw at Vitality Stadium, the Cherries twice coming from behind to secure a point.
Maguire, who learned he had been recalled to the England squad earlier in the day, went from hero to villain after forcing Bournemouth’s James Hill into an own goal, only to concede a spot-kick that ended up costing his side two points.
Both sides had chances in the first half but neither could find the back of the net, with United goalkeeper Senne Lammens and Djordje Petrovic of Bournemouth pulling off several fine saves.
With space at a premium early in the second half, Alejandro Jimenez opened the door for United by pulling the shirt of Matheus Cunha to concede a penalty , and captain Bruno Fernandes converted to give the visitors the lead in the 61st minute.
Ryan Christie equalised six minutes later, however, squeezing a well-placed shot beyond the reach of Lammens.
Fernandes played his part as United took the lead again, swinging in a corner that glanced off Hill and into his own net under pressure from Maguire at the back post in the 71st minute.
Seven minutes later Maguire was sent off for an impulsive tug on the shirt of Evanilson, and teenaged substitute Junior Kroupi confidently fired home the spot-kick.
The visitors had to hang on through more than 10 minutes of stoppage-time for a draw that left them third on the table with 55 points, 15 behind leader Arsenal and six adrift of Manchester City.
Bournemouth is 10th on 42 points.
United captain Fernandes was frustrated by the draw, especially since his team mate Amad Diallo was denied a penalty in similar circumstances to the sending-off of Maguire.
"We had a situation where we could have gone 3-1 up, and from that situation we end up, we end up conceding another goal ...not getting a penalty, and then we get a penalty against where more or less it's the same situation as Amad," he said.
"Today, we had to suffer, we had to run a little bit more and we did, at the end, end up getting a point (so) not everything (is) negative from the game, we got something from it."
United boss Michael Carrick was even more incensed, calling the inconsistencies of the referees' decisions "crazy".
"Disappointed – we created enough chances and had enough opportunities in the game," Carrick said.
"A big opportunity to go 2-0 up, and we get one penalty and not the other. It's exactly the same thing really – a two-handed grab.
"He's [referee] got one wrong, so I don't know which one, but he doesn't give us the second one.
"I think they're both penalties, and it's a massive moment in the game, and it ended up chaos after that. Massive moment and I don't understand how you can give one and not the other – it's crazy.
"It's as obvious as you can get – you've already given one so to not give the other one. It's clear, if that's what he believes is a penalty to start with, then the second one has to be.
"I don't understand how you can't give that."
With the March international break being followed by an FA Cup weekend, United are not in action again until 14 April (AEDT), when it will host Leeds United.
Carrick insisted his side will be prepared to face its rival at Old Trafford despite the long break.
"It is what it is. It's not a problem," Carrick added.
"Boys are going away, and it feels a lot because of the international break but we'll be ready for Leeds when it comes."
