Blues Come From Behind Twice To Draw With Man Utd In Atlanta

Everton rounded off their pre-season tour of the USA by twice coming from behind to draw 2-2 with Manchester United in the Premier League Summer Series finale in Atlanta.

At the stunning 71,000-capacity Mercedes-Benz Stadium – home of NFL franchise Atlanta Falcons – the Red Devils took the lead via Bruno Fernandes' 19th-minute penalty before Iliman Ndiaye's expertly-taken strike restored parity before half-time.

Mason Mount put the Red Devils back in front with a curling effort on 69 minutes, but a somewhat bizarre Ayden Heaven own goal – following dazzling footwork from Ndiaye in the build-up – levelled proceedings six minutes later.

FIRST HALF 

David Moyes shuffled his pack for the clash with one of his former sides, starting with a back four for the first time of the tournament, with James Tarkowski making his first start of pre-season having made his comeback from a hamstring injury as a substitute against West Ham United last time out.

Summer signing Adam Aznou, who sealed his move from Bayern Munich earlier in the week, was named on the bench for the first time.

Everton started brightly and looked sharp in possession in the opening exchanges.

James Garner, operating in a deep midfield role behind the slightly more advanced Tim Iroegbunam and Idrissa Gana Gueye, threatened inside seven minutes when his 30-yard free-kick, from a central position, forced Altay Bayindir into a save at full stretch – and Jake O'Brien struck the base of the post on the rebound with the Turkish goalkeeper rooted to the spot.

Buoyed by a bumper crowd which included an impressive contingent of Evertonians, the Toffees had the ball in the net on the quarter-hour mark when Beto latched on to O'Brien's clipped ball over the top and took one touch to round Bayindir and another to slot home from an acute angle, only for the strike to be disallowed by an offside flag.

Four minutes later and against the run of play, United took the lead via the penalty spot – Bruno Fernandes sending Jordan Pickford the wrong way from 12 yards after Tarkowski was, perhaps controversially, adjudged to have fouled Amad.

That opener gave Ruben Amorim's side a visible boost and they went close to doubling their advantage 10 minutes later.

Fernandes was afforded space in the final third and his 20-yard shot was awkward to deal with for Pickford, who parried it away before Vitalii Mykolenko excellently produced two blocks in quick succession to deny United debutant Bryan Mbeumo from close range.

Garner was causing problems again at the other end. His driven low cross bounced inside the penalty area and found Beto, who pirouetted with his first touch before Diogo Dalot nipped in at the vital moment before he could pull the trigger.

That lifted Everton and, following an impressive spell of possession, Gana dug out a fantastic cross that was excellently steered home by Ndiaye at the far post to level proceedings.

O'Brien then missed a presentable opportunity to put the Blues ahead before half-time, but could not adjust his body position quickly enough to divert a six-yard header on target after Garner's long throw-in had been flicked on by a United defender.

SECOND HALF

Just as was the case in the first, Everton made a bright start to the second period and forced a succession of early corners.

The last of those corners – each taken by Garner – was clawed on to the opposite flank by Bayindir and while Gana's resulting cross wasn't his best, the ball popped up kindly for Tarkowski, who looped a header over the top of United's defence for Michael Keane or Beto but a marginal offside call denied the Blues a one-on-one opportunity with Bayindir.

Amorim began made one half-time substitute and followed up with a triple change 10 minutes after the restart.

Charly Alcaraz was next to go close for Everton and after a neat one-two in a tightly-congested United penalty area, the Argentine and Beto got in each other's way and the ball agonisingly ran out for a goal kick.

Moyes' first substitutions of the contest soon followed, with Aznou, Thierno Barry, Dwight McNeil and Tyler Onyango introduced for the Blues.

But it would be a United substitute who would land the next blow, with Mount swivelling and curling a precise shot into the far corner after a quickly-taken throw-in by the corner flag.

Everton were soon back on level terms, though, and it started with the trademark magic feet of Ndiaye on the halfway line.

The Blues' No.10 easily turned Fernandes before doing well to stay on his feet after a nasty-looking foul by the United captain. That challenge sparked a confrontation but youngster Onyango carried on and drove the ball forward before squaring for McNeil, who was tackled by Amad but the ball deflected off Heaven and rolled into the corner of the net to make it all square again.

Pickford was on hand with a big save in the closing minutes to deny Patrick Dorgu's low drive from inside the penalty area.

Everton will now return to Merseyside to continue preparations for the 2025/26 Premier League campaign, with the final friendly set to be played in front of a sold-out crowd for the very first time against Roma at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday 9 August.