Chapter 659: A Legendary Record
Marco Silva stood on the sidelines, fuming. He was berating Zouma for failing to mark Greenwood.
"Damn it! Useless! You couldn't even keep track of a rookie!"
Manchester United, having equalized, were now surging with confidence and launching waves of attacks.
Two minutes later, the fourth official raised the board: two minutes of injury time.
Harry Kane's long-range shot was blocked. Bruno followed up, only for Pickford to parry the ball out for a corner.
Bruno took the corner, sending the ball into the box. Maguire's header was saved by Pickford. Kane attempted a follow-up header, but Michael Keane cleared the ball off the line.
The ball stayed in the box, creating chaos. Coleman tried to clear, but the ball rebounded off Luke Shaw's back.
As Zouma prepared to launch the ball away, a foot hooked it away from him. A right-footed touch avoided another Everton tackle, followed by a swift left-footed sweep.
The ball soared into the air, bypassing Zouma's feet and Pickford's outstretched hands, and nestled into the net.
Explosion at Old Trafford
Goal!
With so many players crowding the penalty area, many spectators couldn't see who had scored. All they knew was that the net was rippling.
In that instant, Old Trafford erupted. Over 70,000 Manchester United fans roared with joy, a deafening explosion of emotion that felt like it might shake the entire stadium.
Among the chaos, a figure in a No. 26 United jersey sprinted out of the box, fists pumping in the air, screaming and shaking his head in wild celebration.
Behind him, the rest of the United players chased after him, equally ecstatic.
4–3!
United had scored twice in the dying moments to take the lead for the first time in the match. If the score held, they would surpass Arsenal's 49-game unbeaten run and establish a new record: 50 matches unbeaten in the English top flight.
It wasn't just the record that thrilled the fans—it was the manner of the victory. A dramatic comeback, a battle of wills, and an ending that would be recounted for generations.
This was a story for the ages.
Manchester United's Frenzy
On the pitch, United players celebrated like madmen. They caught up to Greenwood, tackled him to the ground, and piled on top of him, screaming and laughing.
On the sidelines, United's substitutes rushed out, shouting and cheering.
Even Mourinho couldn't contain himself. He threw a series of celebratory punches into the air before his assistants grabbed him in a group hug.
On the other side, despair reigned.
Everton's bench was silent. Marco Silva's face turned red with anger, his once-dashing features twisted in frustration.
"I knew it! I knew something was off when he brought that kid on!" he muttered.
On the field, Everton's players were frozen, stunned by the quick turnaround. To make matters worse, both goals had been scored by United's No. 26.
Who was he?
If Bruno Fernandes, Harry Kane, or even Rashford had scored the brace, Everton might have accepted it. But Greenwood?
"Who is this kid?"
The Final Push
Everton quickly made a substitution, bringing on Calvert-Lewin for Gueye.
The clock read 91:20. Everton launched a desperate attack.
Mourinho stood on the sidelines, shaking hands with his assistants in celebration. The victory seemed secured, and with it, the new record: 50 unbeaten games—a milestone etched into the annals of English football history.
But Everton weren't giving up. They kept pressing, and the referee's whistle remained silent.
93 minutes.
Mourinho was livid. "Time's up! Time's up!" he shouted at the officials.
The fourth official approached him. "Please remain calm, Mr. Mourinho."
"Calm?! The added time is over! End the game!"
The fourth official explained, "Perhaps the celebration after the goal extended the stoppage time."
Mourinho retorted, "We didn't celebrate for two minutes, did we?!"
By now, it was 94 minutes. Mourinho realized what was happening.
"Fergie Time"
Mourinho grimaced. He knew he was experiencing the infamous "Fergie Time" from the other side.
As the dominant force of the Premier League era, Manchester United had long been accused of receiving preferential treatment, particularly during Sir Alex Ferguson's tenure.
The term "Fergie Time" was coined to describe the extra minutes often added at the end of matches when United were chasing a goal.
Under Ferguson's 27-year reign, United claimed 13 league titles and two Champions League trophies, cementing their place as England's premier club. His influence was undeniable—referees, the FA, and even rival managers often appeared wary of crossing him.
Now, however, Mourinho and United were on the receiving end of the legend.
The Closing Minutes
Everton launched another attack, with Calvert-Lewin winning a corner. Coleman's delivery found Richarlison, but De Gea parried the shot away.
The referee finally blew the whistle.
Full-time: 4–3. Manchester United had done it.
Old Trafford erupted once more. The crowd roared, chanted, and sang as the players collapsed to the ground in exhaustion and elation.
Mourinho embraced his staff, and the players mobbed Greenwood, lifting the young hero onto their shoulders.
The record had been broken, and the moment would live forever.
50 unbeaten games.
This was Manchester United's legacy.
The concept of "Fergie Time" dates back to the inaugural Premier League season in 1992–1993. In a match at Old Trafford against Sheffield Wednesday, Manchester United were tied 1–1 after 90 minutes. The second half saw an incredible seven minutes of added time, during which Steve Bruce scored the winning goal. That victory was pivotal in United's reclaiming of the English top-flight title after a 26-year wait.
The term "Fergie Time" was officially coined by Sam Wallace of The Daily Telegraph on August 30, 2004. In a game on August 28, Manchester United equalized 1–1 against Blackburn Rovers with Alan Smith scoring in the final 30 seconds. Blackburn's assistant coach, Kevin Saunders, angrily remarked post-match:
"The referee, under Ferguson's constant shouting, changed the added time from three minutes to four. That extra minute gave United the chance to equalize."
From then on, any seemingly excessive added time granted to United became synonymous with "Fergie Time."
The Legendary Manchester Derby
On September 20, 2009, the term "Fergie Time" reached global recognition during a dramatic Manchester Derby. United led City three times, only for City to equalize three times. Four minutes of injury time were announced, but Michael Owen's 96th-minute winner sealed a 4–3 victory for United.
When the game ended, the clock read 97 minutes, sparking outrage among Manchester City fans and the media. The Daily Mirror even mocked Ferguson with a photoshopped image of him holding up a timeboard that read:
"Until We Score."
Liverpool manager Rafa Benítez once angrily claimed that Ferguson had special privileges:
"He can talk to referees without consequence, complain about fixtures, and influence everything. Every week, he pressures officials."
Former Premier League referee Graham Poll admitted:
"The external pressure Ferguson created influenced referees' decisions. On my first visit to Old Trafford, Ferguson told me: 'At Old Trafford, don't blow the final whistle until United win.'"
However, it wasn't all smooth sailing for United, as they also faced adverse decisions. Ferguson's criticism of referees was as sharp as his ability to praise them when things went his way.
Mourinho's Frustration
Mourinho sat grim-faced in the dugout. Once beneficiaries of "Fergie Time," Manchester United now seemed to suffer from it. Since Ferguson's retirement, referees often appeared to go against United, with questionable decisions and unfavorable stoppage times.
Today's match was no exception. United had endured dubious calls, capped off by six minutes of added time.
Mourinho sneered, his expression a mix of resignation and anger. "Let's see if the referee dares to extend stoppage time until Everton wins," he muttered to his staff.
Everton's Last Push
At 94:35, Gylfi Sigurdsson unleashed a powerful shot. De Gea managed to tip it onto the post, and the ball rebounded out for a corner.
Old Trafford's stands erupted with deafening boos.
Coleman delivered the corner. Michael Keane's header was superb, but De Gea showcased his world-class ability, saving the shot.
Chaos ensued in the box. Richarlison attempted a sliding shot, but Harry Maguire blocked it with his face.
Calvert-Lewin's follow-up was cleared off the line by Van Dijk. Finally, Bruno Fernandes managed to clear the ball out of bounds, ending the frantic sequence.
The entire stadium—both fans and players—was stunned. Everton had multiple golden opportunities but were thwarted each time by United's defense, which held firm like a human wall.
The Final Whistle
Marco Silva was beside himself, muttering in disbelief. "Are the football gods on United's side?"
Coleman raced to the sideline to grab the ball for a quick throw-in, but the ball boy clung tightly to it, refusing to let go.
Mourinho stormed to the touchline, pointing at his watch and screaming at referee Jonathan Moss:
"It's the 96th minute! Blow the whistle!"
Finally, Moss blew his whistle three times.
The Record Is Broken
"The game is over! The game is over! It's all over!" exclaimed He Wei in the Beijing broadcast studio. "After six minutes of extended stoppage time, referee Jonathan Moss has finally blown the final whistle. Manchester United, despite trailing three times, came back to win 4–3. They have achieved an unprecedented 50-match unbeaten streak in English top-flight football. Congratulations to Manchester United and Jose Mourinho!"
Zhang Lu added, "Unbelievable! When Arsenal set the record at 49 unbeaten games, everyone said it was insurmountable. Fourteen years later, Manchester United have surpassed it, reaching 50 matches. Mourinho and his team have erected another monumental milestone in football history!"
Celebrations at Old Trafford
The moment the whistle blew, Manchester United's substitutes rushed onto the pitch, arms wide in celebration.
In the stands, United fans erupted in joy, their cheers shaking the stadium to its foundations.
Manchester United 4–3 Everton.
Mourinho's team had not only broken Arsenal's record but done so in a breathtaking, dramatic fashion.
The spotlight immediately turned to Mason Greenwood, the 17-year-old academy graduate who had scored twice to spark the comeback. Overnight, Greenwood became the darling of football media worldwide.
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