Man United wins to potentially save Amorim’s job; Chelsea’s controversial victory

Ruben Amorim experienced another rollercoaster of emotions as Manchester United manager as Bruno Fernandes converted a stoppage-time penalty to secure a 3-2 win over Burnley in the Premier League and maybe keep his coach in a job.

Amorim, under massive pressure after an embarrassing English League Cup defeat in midweek, couldn’t even watch as Fernandes slotted the spot kick home in the seventh minute of added-on time at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Bruno Fernandes celebrates after Josh Cullen scores.Credit: Getty Images

Earlier, United had squandered the lead twice against Burnley — one of the favourites for relegation — and was heading for a draw that would have left Amorim in a precarious position going into the international break.

Amorim was under pressure after United exited the League Cup at the hands of fourth-tier Grimsby Town, after which he criticised his players and suggested discussions would be held about his position.

If those negotiations take place, Amorim goes into them in a slightly stronger position even if major doubts remain over his ability to get United — one of the world’s biggest clubs — back to its previous heights.

Amorim’s job is safe for another week.Credit: AP

United took the lead first through an own-goal and then Bryan Mbeumo but let in an equaliser each time.

It was a first win of the season for Amorim’s team following a 1-0 loss to Arsenal and a 1-1 draw at Fulham, with that embarrassing display at Grimsby thrown in.

United next plays against Manchester City in the derby. It remains to be seen if Amorim, who has been in charge for a turbulent 10 months, will still be around for that.

Chelsea gained from some contentious refereeing calls in a 2-0 win over west London neighbour Fulham on Saturday, whose manager Marco Silva struggled to contain his unhappiness.

Joao Pedro gave Chelsea the lead with a header from a corner in the ninth minute of first-half stoppage time, after a minimum of eight added-on minutes had been called.

Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez, left, duels for the ball with Fulham’s Sasa Lukic.Credit: AP

That further angered Silva, who was already furious that his team’s 21st-minute goal by 18-year-old Josh King was ruled out after a VAR review deemed Rodrigo Muniz to have stamped on the foot of Trevoh Chalobah as he shielded the ball in the build-up.

Silva resorted to laughing sarcastically early in the second half when Chelsea was awarded a penalty for handball against Ryan Sessegnon following another video review, which highlighted two potential infringements — a push and a handball — by Joao Pedro in the build-up.

After a long delay, Enzo Fernandez converted the spot kick down the middle in the 56th.

“For someone that loves football as a manager, a former football player, as a fan sometimes when I just watch a game, I feel sad, really,” Silva said when asked for his views on the refereeing decisions. “Just that.”

Chelsea, the Club World Cup champion over the summer, has picked up seven points from a possible nine in its first three games in the Premier League.

Tottenham loses

One of the three 100% records in the Premier League disappeared when Tottenham lost 1-0 to Bournemouth, thanks to Evanilson’s fifth-minute goal.

Liverpool and Arsenal are the other two teams to have collected maximum points from the opening two games and they meet at Anfield on Sunday.

Sunderland scored a goal in the sixth-minute of stoppage time to beat Bournemouth 2-1 and Everton won 3-2 at Wolves.

Shot-shy Newcastle held to scoreless draw at Leeds

New striker Nick Woltemade watched from the stands as misfiring Newcastle United were held to a 0-0 Premier League draw at Leeds United on Saturday, with striker Alexander Isak again omitted from the squad as he pursues a move to Liverpool.

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe is hoping Isak’s situation is sorted out before the transfer window closes on Monday as his team has struggled to find its rhythm, recording two draws and one defeat in their first three games and no goals scored away from home.

“I think we’re really looking forward to that clarity in terms of what our squad looks like,” Howe told Sky Sports after a disappointing draw on a wet evening at Elland Road.

“The noise around us, it couldn’t have been easy for the players to handle that all through pre-season and at the start of the season, so I think once we have clarity on the squad, we’ll move forward, and I’m sure we can do really well,” he added.

With Anthony Gordon suspended after being sent off in Monday’s 3-2 defeat by Liverpool, the visitors went with 22-year-old William Osula up front, but he made little impression and the lack of a proven Premier League striker caused side to struggle to keep the ball in the attacking third as they only managed two efforts on target.

The visitors began by showing Leeds, who won their opening game at home to Everton, plenty of respect by stringing five across the back, but the home side’s forward line failed to spark until Dominic Calvert-Lewin came on as a second-half substitute.

A heavy touch in the 73rd minute cost him a chance on goal, and he followed up with a powerful shot from distance that flew well wide of the target as Leeds finally began to threaten.

The 28-year-old Calvert-Lewin also forced Nick Pope into a save with his foot, but that was the only effort Leeds managed to get on target.

Newcastle brought Anthony Elanga off the bench but the rapid former Nottingham Forest forward could not provide a decisive moment.

AP and Reuters

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