Report: Fulham 1 United 1
It was a similar tale of frustration for Manchester United, despite registering our first Premier League point of the 2025/26 season.
Leny Yoro’s header, deflected in off Rodrigo Muniz, recorded United’s first goal of the new campaign in front of the away fans, after Bruno Fernandes had missed from the penalty spot earlier in the contest.
But Emile Smith Rowe came off the bench to equalise and leave the Reds supporters disappointed, with Harry Maguire coming so close to finding another late winning goal in a fixture that has built a recent reputation for decisive strikes in the closing stages.
FIRST HALF - PENALTY AND POST AGONY
United were on the front foot from the first minute. Energised by Matheus Cunha, he had already fired just over Bernd Leno’s crossbar when fantastic link-up play with Mason Mount saw the summer signing open up his body and crash a powerful low drive off the left-hand post.
Cunha, who scored twice for Wolves at Craven Cottage last season, continued to be at the heart of all that was positive about United’s strong start in west London.
Ten minutes in, a tidy exchange with Fernandes saw captain denied by captain, as German goalkeeper Leno got down well to keep the Reds skipper at bay.
A reminder was served soon after, as Altay Bayindir had to race off his line and save with his feet to make sure Josh King didn’t put the hosts ahead.
Things then went quiet for a brief period until the game suddenly burst into life again, 10 minutes before half-time.
Calvin Bassey’s wrestling-like move on Mount from a corner didn’t go unnoticed by VAR with a penalty forthcoming for the Reds after review. Fernandes couldn’t take advantage, his spot-kick sailing high over the crossbar.
SECOND HALF - FURTHER FRUSTRATION
Like in the first half, United did most of the early running at the start of the second. Amad took possession before arrowing his shot at goal, stinging the palms of Leno. It was our wing-back’s final involvement as Ruben Amorim went on the attack.
Benjamin Sesko was introduced on 52 minutes but it was Fulham pressing, and Yoro had to be sharp to see off the threat of nippy King, and the centre-back had another big moment minutes later.
The French defender jumped highest from Fernandes’s corner and headed purposefully. Although the final touch appeared to come off Fulham striker Muniz, we had our first goal of the new season. The scoring wasn’t done there, though.
The hosts awoke when seeking an opportunity to take the ball from Diogo Dalot, the right-wing back finding trouble under pressure from Alex Iwobi, whose inviting centre served a goal on a plate for Smith Rowe.
The attacker had been on the pitch for less than three minutes when he connected from close range, unlocking the Reds’ door against the run of play.
The blow momentarily sucked the life out of United, but armed with the knowledge this fixture has seen many late winners, Amorim rung the changes to try and find another.
Seconds after Maguire was introduced for Yoro, he came agonisingly close to another huge closing-stages moment. Fernandes’s corner was attacked by the England central defender but his header missed the bottom corner by inches.
It was a big let off for Fulham - and it proved to be another afternoon of frustration for the Reds.
MATCH DETAILS
Fulham: Leno (c); Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Castagne (Wilson 62); Berge, Lukic; Sessegnon (Robinson 62), King (Smith Rowe 70), Iwobi; Muniz (Jimenez 70).
Subs not used: Lecomte, Cuenca, Reed, Cairney, Adama.
Goal: Smith Rowe 73.
Booked: Lukic.
United: Bayindir; Yoro (Maguire 86), De Ligt, Shaw (Heaven 86); Amad (Dalot 52), Casemiro (Sesko 52), Fernandes (c), Chinazaekpere Dorgu; Mbeumo, Mount (Ugarte 68); Cunha .
Subs not used: Onana, Fredricson, Mainoo, Zirkzee.
Goal: Yoro 58.
Booked: Casemiro.