The match began with an astonishing twist as Forest swiftly netted two goals within the opening five minutes, leaving the home crowd stunned. In the 2nd minute, Taiwo Awoniyi capitalised on a defensive lapse to race through and put Forest ahead. Just moments later, Willy Boly’s unmarked header further deepened United’s disbelief.
However, United demonstrated their resilience, staging a remarkable comeback. Christian Eriksen kick-started their resurgence in the 17th minute, tapping in a precise cross from Marcus Rashford. Despite United’s sustained pressure, Forest remained a potent threat, keeping the encounter in the balance.
Casemiro levelled the playing field in the 52nd minute, finding the net from close range, after United’s earlier defensive struggles. Nottingham Forest faced a setback as Joe Worrall received a red card for a foul on Bruno Fernandes outside the penalty area, leaving them with 10 players.
The decisive moment arrived ten minutes later, as Marcus Rashford was brought down in the area by Danilo. Bruno Fernandes calmly stepped up to take the penalty, sending the American keeper Matt Turner the wrong way and sealing United’s second victory of the season.
United’s triumph marked a remarkable turnaround after their previous weekend’s defeat to Tottenham Hotspur and a challenging win against Wolverhampton Wanderers in their opening match. The victory demonstrated the team’s determination and showcased their ability to recover from a two-goal deficit, a feat they have achieved only three times in Premier League history.
Forest’s counter-attacking prowess was evident early in the match, with Awoniyi’s goal coming from a swift break following a United corner. Awoniyi’s accomplishment made him the first Forest player to score in seven consecutive Premier League appearances.
United’s defensive frailties were exposed again as Willy Boly found space to head the ball into the net for Forest’s second goal. Nonetheless, United responded resolutely, with Fernandes and Rashford taking charge to initiate the comeback.
The victory was hard-earned and well-deserved for United, yet it was an admirable display by Forest, who fought valiantly and had opportunities to secure a point in a tense period of 13 minutes of stoppage time.
(With inputs from Reuters)