Manchester United 3 Fulham 2

United took the lead after 19 minutes, thanks to a bullet header from Casemiro, who converted Bruno Fernandes’s free-kick.

The Reds doubled our advantage 11 minutes into the second-half through Cunha, who was restored to the line-up following the injury to Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu.

Fulham looked to have a rescued a point with two goals in six second-half minutes. Raul Jimenez converted a penalty, before Kevin equalised for the visitors, moments into stoppage time.

However, United responded through substitute Benjamin Sesko, four minutes into added time, to spark jubilant scenes inside Old Trafford.

FIRST HALF- CASEMIRO HEADS UNITED IN FRONT

Manchester United were the first side to threaten, with Amad stinging the palms of Bernd Leno through a powerful shot from the edge of the box.

United continued their strong start to the game when Lisandro Martinez’s long ball found the run of Bryan Mbeumo, who had got in behind the Fulham defence, but Jorge Cuenca recovered to make an excellent saving tackle, with Leno then able to grab the loose ball.

Shortly after, Senne Lammens was called into action for the first time, denying Joachim Anderson from close range with his right hand.

On 16 minutes, Matheus Cunha looked to have won a spot-kick for United when he was brought down by Cuenca inside the box, but, following a VAR review, it was determined that the tugging of the shirt took place outside the box, with the centre-back's sliding tackle making contact with the ball. That did not matter to United or Casemiro, who headed home Fernandes’s lofted free-kick, with 19 minutes gone.

Fulham continued to pose a threat on the counter-attack with Samuel Chukwueze, who scored in Fulham’s victory over Brighton & Hove Albion, forcing Lammens into a save down to his left.

Meanwhile, Mbeumo continued to cause problems for the Fulham defence through his runs in behind. The Cameroon international has been in red-hot form for United since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations, scoring against both Manchester City and Arsenal.

Fulham grew in confidence towards the end of an even first half. Five minutes before the break, Alex Iwobi had an effort from distance, but did not generate enough power to worry Lammens, who comfortably saved down to his right.

United struggled to create chances at the end of the opening period, with wayward passes leading to moves breaking down. Despite the lack of attacking fluency, defensively, we continued to limit Fulham to half-chances And Amad had the last real opportunity of the half, when he worked some space on the edge of the box before firing an effort towards goal that was headed clear by Sander Berge.

 

SECOND HALF - SESKO BAGS LATE WINNER

United had the first chance of the half, through Mbeumo. Diogo Dalot drove through midfield before playing a ball in behind to Mbeumo, but Leno came out quickly to narrow the angle and block the shot.

The in-form Harry Wilson was the next Fulham player to test Lammens. After scoring a stunning free-kick last week, the Welshman forced the Belgium international into a save down to his right.

Despite making a slow start to the second half, United doubled our advantage through Cunha, after 56 minutes. Casemiro played his countryman in down the right-hand side before the no.10 smashed his effort into the roof of the net. Although it was Cunha’s first start for the Reds since the Emirates FA Cup tie against Brighton on 11 January, it is now three goal involvements in three games for the Brazilian.

Fulham thought they had found a way back into the game, eight minutes later. Jimenez’s free-kick was hit straight into the wall, but United were unable to clear our lines. The ball fell to Chukwueze, whose deflected shot fell to an unmarked Cuenca at the back post. However, after a lengthy VAR review, it was determined that Chukwueze was offside when Jimenez took the free-kick and the goal was disallowed.

 

United responded as, just seconds after coming on as a substitute, Sesko hit a post with a header, following a delightful cross from Amad.

But Fulham continued to create good chances throughout the second half and Lammens made another impressive stop from close range to deny Jimenez.

The visitors finally got a goal back after 85 minutes through Jimenez. Harry Maguire brought the Mexican down, even though he had got his shot away and Lammens saved. Referee John Brooks pointed to the spot and Jimenez found the top corner to leave Lammens no chance.

Silva’s side then equalised one minute into stoppage time thanks to Kevin’s fantastic curling effort from the edge of the box, his first Premier League goal seemingly breaking United's hearts.

Yet, incredibly, moments later, we restored the lead through Sesko. Fernandes created the chance, after tricking his way past Calvin Bassey, with his cross finding the Slovenia hitman, who had time to take a touch and curl his shot into the top corner.

OId Trafford erupted, but there was still a great deal of stoppage time to see out before the points were secured.

MATCH DETAILS

United: Lammens; Dalot (Mazraoui 86), Maguire, Martinez, Shaw; Casemiro (Ugarte 75), Mainoo; Amad, Fernandes (c), Cunha (Sesko 74); Mbeumo (Yoro 90).  

Subs not used: Bayindir, Heaven, Malacia, Lacey, Zirkzee.

Goals: Casemiro 19, Cunha 56, Sesko 90+4.

Booked: Casemiro, Maguire.

Fulham: Leno; Castagne, Anderson (c), Cuenca (Bassey 86), Robinson (Sessegnon 71); Iwobi, Berge; Wilson, Smith Rowe (Kevin 71), Chukwueze (Cairney 79); Jimenez. 

Subs not used: Lecomte, Tete, Reed, King, Kusi-Asare.

Goals: Jimenez 85 (pen), Kevin 90+1.

Booked: Anderson.