Zlat’s not magic as United held
ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC’S failure from the spot could be compounded by a spell on the sidelines, with the FA sure to look at the Manchester United striker’s elbow and Tyrone Mings’ stamp after 10-man Bournemouth secured a draw at Old Trafford.
Ugly scenes and poor officiating overshadowed a thrilling lunchtime encounter as Marcos Rojo’s first-ever Premier League goal was cancelled out by Josh King’s penalty as the first half ended chaotically.
Andrew Surman received the first red card of his career – awarded once blundering referee Kevin Friend realised he had booked the Bournemouth captain twice – having reacted angrily to Ibrahimovic’s elbow on Mings, who moments earlier stamped – inadvertently or otherwise – on the Swede.
Ibrahimovic claimed Mings jumped “into my elbow” afterwards, saying: “You have the TV, you can see the images. I jump up and jump high and he jumps into my elbow.
“It is not my intention to hurt someone. I didn’t know about the stamping on the head, if it was him it was him.”
The officials’ report will make for interesting reading as neither player was shown a card for incidents that could well lead to retrospective action from the FA. Referee Friend’s display is also set to dominate column inches in the aftermath of a match Ibrahimovic looked set to win for United after Adam Smith was adjudged to have handled a Paul Pogba cross.
However, EFL Cup hero Ibrahimovic’s spot-kick was saved by the impressive Artur Boruc as Bournemouth ended a four-match losing streak.
United flew out of the blocks and returning captain Wayne Rooney missed after 73 seconds. An outstanding touch from Boruc prevented Pogba turning home a long ball from Luke Shaw, before Anthony Martial was denied.
Rooney and Ibrahimovic transpired to waste an opportunity from which the Cherries broke, with a slip preventing Benik Afobe rounding David De Gea.
Ibrahimovic and Martial continued to threaten, before the
opener came through an unlikely source as Rojo reacted quickly to turn in Valencia’s driven cross-cum-shot.
Bournemouth kept their shape if not their heads at times. However, the award of a penalty raised spirits as Phil Jones clumsily brought down Marc Pugh, with King firing home with aplomb.
Ibrahimovic and Rooney then forced fine saves out of Boruc, before tempers frayed as the Swede caught Mings with an elbow shortly after the Bournemouth defender stamped on the Swede’s head.
Neither were booked, but Surman was for shoving Ibrahimovic – although it took a while for Friend to realise it was second yellow card.
After the break, Rooney saw a strike deflected and Pogba was impressively denied by Boruc. United had the chance to strike a decisive blow as Smith was adjudged to have handled a Pogba cutback. Ibrahimovic stepped up for the spot-kick, only to be denied by a fine Boruc save.
The closing stages resembled two boxers wildly swinging punches at one another. However, the visitors held firm to secure a point.