'It feels like a defeat'

NEWCASTLE, England (AP):

Manchester United conceded a 90th-minute equaliser at Newcastle to draw 3-3 in the English Premier League yesterday after a double from Wayne Rooney looked like giving Louis van Gaal's under-fire team a third straight win.

Paul Dummett's fierce shot from the edge of the area deflected into the top corner for Newcastle's second equaliser in a thrilling game at St James' Park.

Rooney put United ahead from the penalty spot in the ninth minute before setting up Jesse Lingard for the second goal from a quick counterattack near half-time.

Georginio Wijnaldum and Aleksandar Mitrovic, also with a penalty, hauled Newcastle back level, only for Rooney with a curling shot from 20 metres in the 79th to restore United's lead.

"It does feel like a defeat," Rooney said. "If you take a two-goal lead, we should be taking all three points and killing the game off. We didn't take all our chances and we have been punished for it."

United dropped to sixth place in the standings in the race for Champions League qualification.

Amid fierce criticism of his side's recent results and ponderous style of play, Van Gaal acknowledged that some of United's matches left him "very bored".

Van Gaal won't be saying that about this game, with United's early opening goal from the spot forcing Newcastle to commit forward and leave gaps in defence. It turned into one of the most entertaining games of the season.