Stoke 2 Manchester United 2: MATCH HIGHLIGHTS – Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting double denies Red Devils all three points in Premier League thriller
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JOSE MOURINHO had watched his defence deliver a perfect start to the season – but Stoke’s new striker finally gave them to think about.
Maxim Choupo-Moting is a mouthful but also a handful as he became the first player to score against United this season yet actually managed to grab a couple as Mourinho also saw his team lose their 100 per cent record.
Choupo-Moting is a 28-year-old German-born Cameroon international who has arrived from Schalke on a free transfer.
He grabbed the first before United levelled just 161 seconds later when Paul Pogba headed the ball against Marcus Rashford and into the net.
Romelu Lukaku made it 2-1 and Choupo-Moting levelled in what proved to be an entertaining game after a slow start.
Mourinho made three changes from the team which started against Leicester with Matteo Darmian, Ander Herrera and Rashford replacing Daley Blind, Juan Mata and Anthony Martial.
With Ryan Shawcross injured, Mark Hughes handed a debut to Kevin Wimmer who joined from Spurs for £18million.
United had to wait until midway through the first half when Rashford found himself clear but his effort was saved by Jack Butland.
Xherdan Shaqiri had Stoke’s first effort on target, from outside the box, but David de Gea got down to his left to save. Soon after, Shaqiri had a second effort – also from distance – but De Gea jumped to his left and caught the ball.
Yet just two minutes before the break, Stoke moved ahead.
Darren Fletcher played a terrific ball out wide to Mame Diouf who was being played onside. His cross was perfect and Choupo-Moting overpowered Bailly and volleyed the ball in from close range.
Incredibly, United levelled soon after. Nemanja Matic flicked on Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s corner and Paul Pogba headed the ball against Rashford - and it flew in the net. Angry Stoke appealed for offside but referee Neil Swarbrick got the decision right.
Lukaku put United ahead just before the hour although he needed a second attempt. Joe Allen lost the ball for Stoke, Matteo Darmian surged forward and then fed Mkhitaryan who played the ball through to Lukaku who looked onside – just.
England keeper Butland made the initial save but it fell back to Lukaku who lifted the ball into the net.
De Gea delivered a world-class save to somehow keep out an effort from Jese.
But from the resulting corner taken by Shaqiri, Choupo-Moting jumped above Phil Jones - far too easily - to make it 2-2.
Eight minutes from time, Lukaku missed an absolute sitter.
FACTS, STATS, GOALS AND LOLS
- Stoke are now unbeaten in their last five Premier League home games against Man Utd
- Since Sir Alex left, United have won just three times in nine games against the Potters
- Jose Mourinho hasn’t beaten Stoke in his last five games as a manager
- Mark Hughes is unbeaten in his last four games against the Special One
- Saido Berahino still hasn’t scored a Premier League goal since February 2016 in over 31 hours of action
WHAT THEY SAID
Stoke goalscorer Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting: "It was a very tough game against maybe the best team in the league.
"Personally I'm happy for my goals, we had a great game. My goals are always to score or assist and I'm very happy, we didn't lose and I got my first goals for Stoke."
Man Utd boss Jose Mourinho: "I'm happy with Lukaku with or without goals because his contribution is always good.
"With one more goal we win 3-2 but without the mistake at the corner then we win 2-1 and Lukaku's miss doesn't matter.
"That was a great save by David de Gea - the only one he did, because in the first half there was only a couple of slow shots by Xherdan Shaqiri.
"But we couldn't protect the corner and he was punished, we were punished."
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DREAM TEAM RATINGS
Stoke: Butland 7, Zouma 7, Cameron 6 (Martins Indi 6), Wimmer 6, Diouf 7, Allen 6, Fletcher 6, Pieters 6, Shaqiri 7, Choupo-Moting 8, Jese 6 (Berahino 6)
Subs not used: Tymon, Adam, Crouch, Sobhi, Grant
Goals: Choupo-Moting 43’, 63’
Man Utd: De Gea 6, Valencia 7, Bailly 6, Jones 6, Darmian 6, Herrera 6 (Mata 6), Matic 6, Pogba 7, Mkhitaryan 6 (Lingard 5), Lukaku 7, Rashford 7 (Martial 6)
Subs not used: Smalling, Carrick, Blind, Romero
Goals: Rashford 45’, Lukaku 57’
Star Man: Choupo Moting