JOSE MOURINHO had watched his defence deliver a perfect start to the season – but Stoke’s new striker finally gave them to think about.
Maxim Choupo-Moting is a mouthful but also a handful as he became the first player to score against United this season yet actually managed to grab a couple as Mourinho also saw his team lose their 100 per cent record. Choupo-Moting is a 28-year-old German-born Cameroon international who has arrived from Schalke on a free transfer.
He grabbed the first before United levelled just 161 seconds later when Paul Pogba headed the ball against Marcus Rashford and into the net.
Romelu Lukaku made it 2-1 and Choupo-Moting levelled in what proved to be an entertaining game after a slow start.
Mourinho made three changes from the team which started against Leicester with Matteo Darmian, Ander Herrera and Rashford replacing Daley Blind, Juan Mata and Anthony Martial.
With Ryan Shawcross injured, Mark Hughes handed a debut to Kevin Wimmer who joined from Spurs for £18million.
United had to wait until midway through the first half when Rashford found himself clear but his effort was saved by Jack Butland. Xherdan Shaqiri had Stoke’s first effort on target, from outside the box, but David de Gea got down to his left to save. Soon after, Shaqiri had a second effort – also from distance – but De Gea jumped to his left and caught the ball.
Yet just two minutes before the break, Stoke moved ahead.
Darren Fletcher played a terrific ball out wide to Mame Diouf who was being played onside. His cross was perfect and Choupo-Moting overpowered Bailly and volleyed the ball in from close range.
Incredibly, United levelled soon after. Nemanja Matic flicked on Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s corner and Paul Pogba headed the ball against Rashford - and it flew in the net. Angry Stoke appealed for offside but referee Neil Swarbrick got the decision right. Lukaku put United ahead just before the hour although he needed a second attempt. Joe Allen lost the ball for Stoke, Matteo Darmian surged forward and then fed Mkhitaryan who played the ball through to Lukaku who looked onside – just.
England keeper Butland made the initial save but it fell back to Lukaku who lifted the ball into the net.
De Gea delivered a world-class save to somehow keep out an effort from Jese.
But from the resulting corner taken by Shaqiri, Choupo-Moting jumped above Phil Jones - far too easily - to make it 2-2.
Eight minutes from time, Lukaku missed an absolute sitter.
From The Sun
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