Manchester United were forced to settle for a late 1-1 draw against Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday as Matheus Cunha’s 89th-minute strike rescued a point for Michael Carrick’s side, Softfootball reports.
It was another frustrating evening for the Red Devils, who looked set to suffer a third defeat in the space of a week after a difficult run of results. Questions will continue to surround Carrick and whether he can lead United back towards the level of success expected at Old Trafford.
Fulham, managed by Alvaro Arbeloa, arguably deserved more from the contest after taking the game to an underwhelming Manchester United side for long periods. The opening half was an entertaining and open affair, with both teams creating opportunities. United were kept in the contest by goalkeeper Senne Lammens, who produced an outstanding performance between the posts.
The Belgian shot-stopper repeatedly denied Fulham and helped United survive a first half in which chances arrived at both ends. Bruno Fernandes and Matheus Cunha also struck the post for the visitors as the game remained finely balanced.
The tempo dropped significantly after the interval, but Fulham eventually found a way through when a comical defensive error resulted in a goal that was credited as a Lisandro Martinez own goal.
It was a moment United will want to forget. Lammens also failed to cover himself in glory during the incident, despite his otherwise excellent performance throughout the match. With Fulham protecting their advantage and United struggling to create a meaningful response, the Red Devils appeared destined for another damaging defeat.
However, Cunha produced the moment United desperately needed in the 89th minute. His effort took a deflection before finding the net, sparing United from what would have been another painful result and allowing Carrick to breathe a small sigh of relief.
The draw comes just days after United suffered a 3-2 defeat to Brighton in the Carabao Cup. The Red Devils had raced into a two-goal lead during the opening 10 minutes but surrendered their advantage before eventually losing the contest.
Against Fulham, United again showed signs of inconsistency, although the late equaliser prevented another defeat.
The result leaves United with plenty to reflect on as pressure continues to build around Carrick. While Cunha’s late intervention prevented another defeat, the overall performance offered little reassurance after a turbulent week.
For Fulham, the frustration will be that they were unable to hold onto their advantage after putting United under significant pressure for large periods. Lammens’ performance and Cunha’s late intervention ultimately ensured the points were shared at Craven Cottage.
Player Ratings
Fulham player ratings
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| Bernd Leno | 6.4 |
| Timothy Castagne | 6.3 |
| David Affengruber | 6.4 |
| Calvin Bassey | 7.0 |
| Antonee Robinson | 6.8 |
| Sander Berge | 6.4 |
| Shea Charles | 6.3 |
| Oscar Bobb | 6.2 |
| Joshua King | 6.3 |
| Alex Iwobi | 7.2 |
| Gonzalo Garcia | 6.4 |
Manchester United player ratings
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| Senne Lammens | 8.4 |
| Diogo Dalot | 7.0 |
| Harry Maguire | 6.6 |
| Lisandro Martinez | 6.8 |
| Luke Shaw | 6.6 |
| Youri Tielemans | 6.6 |
| Kobbie Mainoo | 7.0 |
| Bruno Fernandes | 6.8 |
| Bryan Mbeumo | 6.8 |
| Matheus Cunha | 8.1 |
| Marcus Rashford | 7.0 |
Team Statistics
| Stat | Fulham | Manchester United |
|---|---|---|
| Shots | 12 | 25 |
| Shots on target | 6 | 7 |
| Possession | 44% | 56% |
| Passes | 418 | 563 |
| Pass accuracy | 88% | 91% |
| Fouls | 9 | 5 |
| Yellow cards | 3 | 0 |
| Red cards | 0 | 0 |
| Offsides | 1 | 2 |
| Corners | 3 | 13 |
