Everton shrug off Balogun bust‑up with dramatic draw at Manchester United

Everton’s summer has been a roller‑coaster. The Toffees were left hanging when a last‑minute deal for Folarin Balogun fell through, and the headlines were full of speculation about how the club would replace the missing striker.

But on Sunday night the Merseyside side proved that a transfer saga isn’t a recipe for disaster on the pitch. After falling behind early at Old Trafford, the visitors dug in, took the lead and then, with the clock ticking into the 96th minute, Ainsley Maitland‑Niles rolled the ball into the net to level the scores.

It was a goal that felt almost cinematic. Everton had been trailing 2‑0 after two quick strikes from Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho. A brief burst of hope came when the Toffees pulled one back through a crisp finish from James Pickford, only for United to respond moments later.

Then, in what could only be described as a last‑gasp scramble, the ball fell to a sprinting Maitland‑Niles on the edge of the box. He tucked it low past David de Gea, and the stadium – half‑filled, but still buzzing – erupted. The point was salvaged, and the narrative shifted from transfer woes to pure resilience.

Everton manager Sean Dyson was quick to praise his side’s character. “We knew we had a tough night ahead, especially without Balogun. The lads showed they can win games without a big name, and that says a lot about the group,” he said in the post‑match interview.

Across the 10,000‑strong crowd, Manchester United’s new head coach Michael Carrick could barely hide his frustration. “We were leading, we felt the momentum was ours. Conceding that late goal hurts, but credit to Everton – they never gave up,” he admitted, while also defending the team’s overall performance despite dropping two points away from home.

Balogun’s aborted move still looms over the Toffees, but the match gave fans a taste of what might be possible if the club can find a suitable replacement or adapt its tactics. For now, the message is clear: Everton can still compete, drama and all.