Sports

Match Result: Stoke City 2-2 Manchester United

Published

7 years ago

September 9, 2017

Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting scored twice as Stoke ended Manchester United’s perfect start to the season with a 2-2 draw at the bet365 Stadium on Saturday.

Summer signing Choupo-Moting put the hosts ahead in the 43rd minute, only for United to reply before the break as Paul Pogba’s header deflected in off Marcus Rashford.

Romelu Lukaku fired United in front in the second half, but Choupo-Moting levelled from a corner in the 63rd minute and Lukaku spurned a chance for a winner when he swiped over from close range with 10 minutes to go.

The draw moves United back to the top of the Premier League table, above Manchester City on goal difference.

After a fast start to the game, it soon settled into a pattern as United dominated possession and forced Stoke back into their own half.

Stoke: Butland (7), Cameron (5), Zouma (7), Wimmer (5), Diouf (7), Fletcher (7), Allen (6), Pieters (6), Shaqiri (6), Jese (5), Choupo-Moting (8).

Subs: Martins Indi (5), Berahino (5).

Man Utd: De Gea (6), Valencia (6), Bailly (5), Jones (5), Darmian (6), Matic (6), Pogba (6), Herrera (5), Mkhitaryan (6), Rashford (6), Lukaku (7).

Subs: Mata (5), Martial (5), Lingard (5).

Man of the match: Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting.

The visitors took their time to create any chances, though, with Rashford eventually testing Jack Butland with a couple of shots from inside the box.

David de Gea kept out a 25-yard shot from Xherdan Shaqiri at the other end, but Stoke had otherwise hardly threatened before Choupo-Moting swept in Mame Biram Diouf’s cross in the 43rd minute.

United responded swiftly as Nemanja Matic flicked on a corner and Pogba’s header went in off Rashford.

Although Stoke made a positive start to the second half, it was United who struck first when Lukaku finished past Butland at the second attempt.

De Gea made a superb reaction stop to deny Jese from close range, but there was nothing he could do to prevent Choupo-Moting levelling from a corner shortly afterwards.

Lukaku could have won it for United when he swiped over Antonio Valencia’s cross from 10 yards out, while Butland made a sharp late stop on the line to keep out a header from Kurt Zouma towards his own goal.

Man of the match – Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting

While Kurt Zouma impressed at the back for Stoke, it was another of their summer signings who stood out the most.

Having only scored three goals for Schalke last season, Choupo-Moting opened his Stoke account by getting ahead of Eric Bailly to sweep in a cross from the right. He then headed in from a corner to level the game in the 63rd minute.

The 28-year-old held the ball up well, was positive in possession and is the first player to score a Premier League double against Manchester United since Alexis Sanchez in October 2015.

What next?

Manchester United start their Champions League campaign with a home match against Basel on Tuesday. They then welcome Wayne Rooney back on Nissan Super Sunday as Everton visit Old Trafford.

Stoke travel to Newcastle next Saturday before home games against Chelsea and Southampton.