Coming into the contest just three points adrift of the top four, United looked determined to stamp their authority on proceedings, with Mason Mount seeing a powerful early strike repelled by Dorde Petrovic.
Only Manchester City had opened the scoring in more PL games this season than the Red Devils (10), and they soon found a breakthrough when Diogo Dalot’s inswinging delivery was parried by Petrovic, leaving Amad Diallo the simple task of nodding home from a yard out.
Armed with the lead, Ruben Amorim’s side went in pursuit of a quickfire second, as Matheus Cunha fired wide from range before delivering a gorgeous cross for Bryan Mbeumo, who volleyed over on the stretch.
For all the hosts’ pressure, Bournemouth remained a threat at the other end, and the Cherries should’ve drawn level when Marcus Tavernier directed a close-range header straight at Senne Lammens.
Undeterred, the visitors made no mistake five minutes before half-time, with Antoine Semenyo racing onto Adam Smith’s pass and drilling a superb strike in off the far post to score for a third successive H2H and net his first PL goal since October.
That sparked an immediate response from United, and the Red Devils duly regained their lead on the stroke of the interval when Casemiro’s downward header from Bruno Fernandes’ corner proved too strong for Petrovic.
The back-and-forth nature of the contest continued into the second period, with Bournemouth levelling within 38 seconds of the restart when Tavernier’s inch-perfect through ball was coolly tucked home by Evanilson.
Remarkably, the Cherries found themselves in front just six minutes later, as Tavernier turned from provider to goalscorer, curling an exquisite free-kick into the corner beyond Lammens to send the away support into raptures.
Stunned by the visitors’ quickfire turnaround, United desperately looked to regain control of the match, with Mbeumo spurning a glorious opportunity from eight yards.
Summer signing Benjamin Sesko was introduced with just over 20 minutes remaining, but it was trusted captain Fernandes who came up with the goods, caressing a picture-perfect free-kick into the top corner to set up a fascinating finale.
Roared on by a fervent home crowd, United sent Old Trafford into delirium less than two minutes later, with Cunha latching onto a failed clearance from Adrien Truffert before slotting home his second PL goal of the season.
In keeping with the non-stop drama of the match, Bournemouth refused to lie down without a fight, and they netted an eighth goal of the evening in the 84th minute through substitute Eli Junior Kroupi’s clinical finish in the box.
Both sides continued to commit numbers forward in pursuit of a late winner, and despite a pair of golden chances for David Brooks deep into stoppage time, Lammens stood tall as the game ended four goals apiece.
In doing so, he preserved United’s proud unbeaten home record when leading at half-time in the league, which dates back to 1984. Nevertheless, the hosts will hardly be ending the night in high spirits after dropping two more points.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)
