Gary Neville Slams Man United Star After Antoine Semenyo Goal
- Manchester United made a bright start at Old Trafford and took the lead when Amad Diallo finished from close range
- Bournemouth regrouped and struck against the run of play, with Antoine Semenyo grabbing the equaliser for the Cherries
- The goal prompted Gary Neville to single out a United player for criticism after Semenyo pulled level inside the first half
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Gary Neville took aim at Luke Shaw after Antoine Semenyo pulled Bournemouth level against Manchester United, arguing the defender needed to be “stronger” in the build-up to the goal.
United had begun brightly at Old Trafford and were rewarded early on when Amad Diallo pounced on a mistake from goalkeeper Djordje Petrović to nod in from close range.
Source: Getty Images
However, Bournemouth regrouped and struck against the run of play in the 40th minute, with Semenyo, who had scored against the Red Devils at Old Trafford last season, netting the equaliser for the Cherries, his seventh Premier League goal of the season.
The strike was Semenyo’s first in two months, bringing an end to his eight-game goal drought, Citi Sports reported.
United were guilty of gifting possession back to the visitors in the immediate build-up, though, with Shaw barged off the ball by Justin Kluivert following an untidy pass from Mason Mount on the touchline. Casemiro restored United’s advantage, but that was not enough.
Seconds into the second half, the hosts’ lackadaisical defending was again a hot talking point for fans and pundits alike.
‘There’s an inquest going on at that far side, but he [Semenyo] is a special player,’ former Manchester United and England right-back Neville said on Sky Sports' commentary via Metro Sport when watching back Semenyo’s leveller.
‘Mason Mount just pops it back to Shaw and then Luke Shaw just gets barged out of the way. It’s a little bit of a shoulder to shoulder.
Below is Semenyo's goal:
‘There’s a lot to do, an awful lot to do, and he just basically gets shoulder barged out of the way by Justin Kluivert.
‘He’s got to be stronger there, Shaw, and he just leaves his team-mates in a position whereby they’ve almost got to invite Semenyo to shoot because if you go out too early they will just play it across.
‘Can you beat the goalkeeper? Yes you can. It’s an absolutely wonderful finish, everything you’d want in teaching a young forward. He just side foots it but with such power.
‘For all their good work, Manchester United, they find themselves level in the game.’
Source: Getty Images
During the pulsating game, Semenyo came under fire from Manchester United fans after they called for him to be sent off for shoving Diogo Dalot during a heated encounter.
The Black Stars forward ended a two-month goal drought in the match and escaped a red card for the incident involving Dalot.
Social media quickly lit up with United supporters insisting that Semenyo’s aggressive action should have resulted in a dismissal.
The game itself ended in a pulsating 4-4 draw with both sides sharing the spoils.
Semenyo tipped to replace Salah
YEN.com.gh earlier reported that Antoine Semenyo has been backed by a former Liverpool star as a possible replacement for Mohamed Salah if the Egyptian leaves Anfield.
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Speaking on Premier League Productions, Owen highlighted Semenyo’s rapid progress at Bournemouth, saying it shows he is ready to take the next step.
Source: YEN.com.gh
