Manchester United were forced to settle for a frustrating 1–1 draw against Fulham, as the Reds’ first Premier League point of the 2025–26 season ended in frustration and unfulfilled promise.
Lively Start, Missed Opportunities
From the very first whistle, United looked dangerous—Matheus Cunha wasted no time testing Fulham’s goalkeeper, sending one shot just over the bar before smashing another off the post from close range. The attacking intensity continued, with Cunha almost scoring again after controlling a high ball, only to be denied by a sharp save from Bernd Leno.
United earned a penalty when VAR intervened after a wrestling-style foul by Calvin Bassey on Mason Mount. However, Bruno Fernandes chased perfection and missed—it soared high over the crossbar. The miss was especially galling given he’d previously converted his first 11 spot-kicks for the club.
Second-Half Lead Dashed
The breakthrough finally came just after the break. Leny Yoro rose to head Bryan Mbeumo’s corner, but a crucial touch off Rodrigo Muniz turned the effort into an own goal—giving United their first goal of the campaign.
Yet that lead proved fleeting. Within 93 seconds of his introduction, substitute Emile Smith Rowe coolly tapped in a cross from Alex Iwobi to level the score—silencing the away support and sparking Fulham’s revival.
Late Drama and Defensive Woes
United pushed hard for a winner. Harry Maguire nearly turned the match in their favor, narrowly missing with a late header from a Fernandes corner. Despite the promising moments, manager Ruben Amorim criticized his team’s defensive mindset after going ahead, lamenting their inability to suppress Fulham’s resurgence.
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Manchester United have now secured just one point from their opening two Premier League matches, languishing in 16th place.
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Fulham, buoyed by a sense of belief and reaction, climbed to 13th in the table with two points—proudly celebrating their first point at Craven Cottage against United in nine attempts.
Bruno Fernandes, visibly upset by his missed penalty—particularly after being disrupted by the referee—stay psychologically bruised. He called out the lack of apology, noting how it rattled his routine.
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