Bruno Fernandes missed a 93rd-minute penalty as Aston Villa won at Old Trafford for the first time in 12 years in a pulsating match.
Kortney Hause had put Villa ahead with a powerful header two minutes from the end of normal time before the defender handled inside the box to present Manchester United with a lifeline.
However, Fernandes blazed high over the bar in front of the Stretford End as United’s unbeaten start to the Premier League season came to an end.
Having suffered an early Carabao Cup exit at the hands of West Ham, United have lost their past two home games without scoring.
Villa missed two big chances before a dramatic finale.
After Matt Targett blazed over inside the six-yard area, Ollie Watkins could only fire at David de Gea after the United keeper had passed straight to the Villa forward following Harry Maguire’s backpass.
In a thrilling game, Ezri Konsa also headed another chance over after beating Aaron Wan-Bissaka in the air, while Watkins was denied by De Gea at full stretch in the second half.
At the other end, Emiliano Martinez kept out Maguire’s header and Paul Pogba nodded wide when the France midfielder should have scored.
Penalty woe for Solskjaer
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer used his pre-match news conference to voice concerns about United’s lack of penalties in recent weeks.
The Red Devils boss thought his side were denied “two stonewall penalties” in a 2-1 win at West Ham last Sunday, while he also felt they should have had a spot-kick in the cup defeat by the Hammers on Wednesday.
When substitute Edinson Cavani’s header struck Hause’s arm deep into stoppage time, referee Mike Dean immediately pointed to the spot.
Fernandes, however, ballooned his attempt high over Martinez’s crossbar leaving Villa to celebrate a famous win.
It capped a bitterly frustrating day for United.
They had 28 shots yet failed to find the net. It was also the first time Cristiano Ronaldo failed to score since re-signing.
Suddenly, United and Solskjaer find themselves under pressure before Villarreal’s Champions League visit to Old Trafford on Wednesday.
Solskjaer is expected to deliver trophies this season after a busy – and expensive – summer in the transfer market.
With one avenue closed in the EFL Cup, they need to bounce back and beat Villarreal after losing their first group game against Young Boys.
Memorable win for Villa
Villa arrived at Old Trafford seeking a first point on the road in the Premier League. They left celebrating a memorable victory after a highly impressive performance.
Not since Gabriel Agbonlahor scored the winner in 2009 have Villa won at Old Trafford but Dean Smith’s side revelled in their surroundings as they carved out several clear-cut chances.
Targett will wonder how on earth he missed from close range after a lovely move involving John McGinn and Matty Cash.
With England boss Gareth Southgate watching from the directors’ box, Watkins will feel he should have done better after De Gea’s mistake before the United keeper denied Villa’s number 11 after half-time with a diving stop.
Villa secured nine away wins on their way to finishing a respectable 11th last season.
After back-to-back defeats on their travels, they are up and running on the road after a powerful headed finish by Hause, making his first league start of the season in place of Axel Tuanzebe, who was not eligible to face his parent club.
Player of the match
McGinnJohn McGinn
Line-ups
Man Utd
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1de Gea
- 29Wan-Bissaka
- 19Varane
- 5MaguireSubstituted forLindelöfat 67′minutes
- 23ShawBooked at 29minsSubstituted forDalotat 34′minutes
- 39McTominaySubstituted forCavaniat 82′minutes
- 17FredBooked at 77mins
- 11Greenwood
- 18Bruno Fernandes
- 6Pogba
- 7Cristiano Ronaldo
Substitutes
- 2Lindelöf
- 9Martial
- 14Lingard
- 20Dalot
- 21Cavani
- 22Heaton
- 25Sancho
- 31Matic
- 34van de Beek
Aston Villa
Formation 3-5-2
- 1Martínez
- 4Konsa
- 30Hause
- 5Mings
- 2CashBooked at 90mins
- 7McGinnBooked at 66mins
- 41RamseySubstituted forArcherat 86′minutes
- 6Douglas Luiz
- 3Targett
- 20IngsSubstituted forBuendíaat 78′minutes
- 11Watkins
Substitutes
- 10Buendía
- 12Steer
- 15Traoré
- 18Young
- 19Nakamba
- 21El Ghazi
- 33Chukwuemeka
- 35Archer
- 36Bogarde
- Referee:
- Mike Dean
- Attendance:
- 72,922
Live Text
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Match ends, Manchester United 0, Aston Villa 1.
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Second Half ends, Manchester United 0, Aston Villa 1.
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Attempt missed. Mason Greenwood (Manchester United) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Bruno Fernandes.
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Penalty missed! Bad penalty by Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) right footed shot is too high. Bruno Fernandes should be disappointed.
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Penalty conceded by Kortney Hause (Aston Villa) with a hand ball in the penalty area.
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Attempt blocked. Edinson Cavani (Manchester United) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Bruno Fernandes with a cross.
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Matthew Cash (Aston Villa) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Diogo Dalot (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Matthew Cash (Aston Villa).
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Goal! Manchester United 0, Aston Villa 1. Kortney Hause (Aston Villa) header from the left side of the six yard box to the top left corner. Assisted by Douglas Luiz with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
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Substitution, Aston Villa. Cameron Archer replaces Jacob Ramsey.
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Attempt missed. Jacob Ramsey (Aston Villa) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Emiliano Buendía following a corner.
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Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Victor Lindelöf.
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Attempt missed. Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) header from the left side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Mason Greenwood with a cross.
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Substitution, Manchester United. Edinson Cavani replaces Scott McTominay.
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Scott McTominay (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Emiliano Buendía (Aston Villa).
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Foul by Diogo Dalot (Manchester United).
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Matthew Cash (Aston Villa) wins a free kick on the right wing.