Manchester United scored twice in stoppage time to rescue a remarkable 4-4 draw with Aston Villa at Old Trafford on Sunday, after twice fighting back from two goals down in a chaotic Premier League encounter.

Substitutes Joshua Zirkzee and Patrick Dorgu struck in the 92nd and 96th minutes to salvage a point for the hosts, who had trailed 4-2 as the game entered added time. The result leaves United 18th in the table, still in the relegation zone heading into the international break.

Nightmare start for United

Villa made a flying start, with Alysson opening the scoring after just 59 seconds before Nicolas Jackson doubled the lead inside four minutes. United were stunned, but Bruno Fernandes pulled one back from the penalty spot in the 16th minute after Boubacar Kamara fouled Matheus Cunha.

Former Villa midfielder Youri Tielemans then levelled the scores in the 44th minute, sending the teams in at 2-2 at half-time. Villa restored their two-goal advantage early in the second half, John McGinn converting a penalty in the 48th minute after Diogo Dalot fouled Alysson, before Leon Goretzka added a fourth.

Late drama saves a point

United looked beaten as the clock ticked into stoppage time, but Zirkzee finished from close range in the 92nd minute after combining with Dorgu, who had come on as a 66th-minute substitute for Dalot.

The equaliser arrived in the 96th minute. With goalkeeper Senne Lammens up for a corner, Dorgu rose highest inside a crowded six-yard box to head home from Fernandes’ delivery, sparking delirium around Old Trafford.

In doing so, United became the first team to trail by two goals and level twice in the same Premier League fixture.

The drama was not confined to stoppage time. Mason Mount struck the post with an 89th-minute volley moments before the late rescue, and United had earlier survived a first half in which Villa twice opened up a two-goal lead. United had slipped into the relegation zone on Saturday after Nottingham Forest’s 3-1 victory over Manchester City, and the point was not enough to lift them out of it.

What the draw means

The point does little to ease the pressure on head coach Michael Carrick. United have won just one of their opening 10 league games, collecting eight points, and sit 18th, one point above bottom-placed Crystal Palace.

Villa, meanwhile, occupy 10th place. The draw came in Unai Emery’s 200th Premier League game and extended Villa’s unbeaten league run to six matches.

The Premier League now pauses for the international break. United return to action at Liverpool on 22 November.