Ainsley Maitland-Niles said Everton’s 2-2 draw with Manchester United felt like a victory after he scored an equaliser in the sixth minute of added time.
The Everton midfielder found the net in the 96th minute of the third-round Premier League meeting, securing a share of the points for his side in a dramatic finish.
“It feels like we won,” Maitland-Niles said after the match.
His late goal ensured Everton avoided defeat against Manchester United and left the two clubs separated by one point in the league table.
Everton now have five points from their opening three Premier League matches and sit eighth. Manchester United are 11th with four points.
The result means Everton remain above their opponents despite the match ending level. Maitland-Niles’ contribution was decisive in determining the final score, with his goal arriving at the latest stage of the contest.
For Everton, the draw represents another point added to their league total and keeps them in the upper half of the table after three rounds. Manchester United, meanwhile, remain on four points and occupy 11th place.
The match ended 2-2, with both teams taking one point. However, the timing of Everton’s goal gave the conclusion the feel of a win for Maitland-Niles and his team-mates.
Maitland-Niles was the player to provide the decisive moment, scoring in the 96th minute to bring Everton level. His comments reflected the importance of the late equaliser and the emotions surrounding the result.
The Premier League standings remain tightly placed around the two clubs. Everton’s five points put them in eighth position, while Manchester United’s four points leave them three places lower in 11th.
With the third round now complete, Everton have moved on to five points and Manchester United to four. The final outcome at 2-2 therefore gave Everton the stronger position in the table, as well as the satisfaction of recovering a point through Maitland-Niles’ stoppage-time goal.