The scoreline contradicted the statistics: Burnley had just one shot on target but astonishingly scored two goals to share points with Man Utd.
On 8 Jan 2026 GMT+7, Manchester United missed the chance to secure three points, settling for a 2-2 draw at Burnley in the 2025-26 English Premier League season on Wednesday, 7 Jan 2026 GMT+7. The match drew significant attention due to the incredible contrast between the statistics and the final score.
The match at Turf Moor marked Darren Fletcher's league managerial debut, but plans did not go well. Burnley, second from bottom, took the lead in the 11th minute after an unfortunate own goal by Manchester United defender Eden Heaven, giving the home side a 1-0 advantage that held until halftime.
In the second half, the Red Devils quickly equalized in the 50th minute when Bruno Fernandes threaded a pass to Benjamin Sesko, who scored confidently. Then, in the 60th minute, Sesko added a second goal from Patrick Dorgu's assist, putting Man Utd ahead 2-1.
However, the visitors' advantage was short-lived as Burnley equalized 2-2 in the 66th minute on a counterattack. Marcus Edwards passed to Jaiden Anthony, who cut inside and curled a precise shot into the far post.
The match ended 2-2, with Manchester United moving up to 32 points in 7th place, while Burnley remained 19th with 13 points, second from bottom.
An intriguing aspect of the game was the near unbelievable statistics: Burnley managed only 5 shots in total and just one on target, whereas Manchester United had 24 shots, including 8 on target.
Moreover, Burnley's expected goals (xG) was merely 0.24—well under one full goal—yet they scored twice, one from an opponent's own goal. Meanwhile, Man Utd's xG was 2.55 but they failed to convert their superiority into a win.
This result highlighted Manchester United's ongoing issue this season: generating many chances but lacking clinical finishing. Conversely, Burnley demonstrated that football is sometimes decided not by numbers but by sharpness at the most crucial moments.