Matheus Cunha’s deflected 89th-minute strike grabbed Manchester United a 1-1 draw at Fulham to take the edge off what appeared to be turning into a full-blown crisis for Michael Carrick’s side going into the international break.
A horror-show own goal from Lisandro Martinez with 23 minutes to play, piled the pressure on United to snatch something from this match, following the midweek Carabao Cup collapse at home to Brighton and Manchester derby defeat last weekend.
A wicked flick off David Affengruber got them out of jail. But United are still in the bottom half of the Premier League after five games, 10 points adrift of table-topping neighbours City and looking miles off the level required to challenge the country’s best sides this season. This is their joint-worst start to a Premier League campaign.
“A real mess” was how Sky Sports’ Gary Neville described the own goal. Cunha was levered off the ball by Fulham centre-back Calvin Bassey, whose stinging shot was parried by Senne Lammens. The ‘keeper then saw Martinez stick out a boot and divert the ball back past him. Lammens’ clumsy attempt to cut it out summed up United’s chaotic defending.
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It was their play on the ball before that which most worried Neville, though. He called their passive possession before the opener “the worst 15 minutes I have ever see Manchester United play”.
The narrative could have been very different had Bruno Fernandes found the net rather than the post from Cunha’s inviting cutback in the first half, or if the Brazilian’s heavily deflected shot had gone in rather than clipped the woodwork. Bernd Leno also made a series of full-stretch saves.
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Eventually, the Fulham ‘keeper was beaten, with no chance of stopping the leveller. It was heartbreak for the hosts and their new boss Alvaro Arbeloa who is still searching for his first Premier League win. He will take encouragement from this performance after their draw at Anfield, though, as they move off bottom spot by goal difference.
As for United, the accumulation of poor performances already this season will have alarm bells ringing in Manchester. They got away with a point at Fulham but have to find a way to make a major gear change during the upcoming three-week break to get back on track and realise their ambitions of kicking on this season.
Cunha: They put in more energy than us – we cannot accept this
Man Utd’s Matheus Cunha to Sky Sports:
“It is so frustrating for us. In the beginning, we put the plan in and created some chances. We didn’t score and then they scored in one action. It is hard to explain.
“It is frustrating for us. After the goal, we played much better snd had a lot of character. It needs to be from the start. It is only one point but we should never play for one point.
“It is hard. They put in more energy than us, we cannot accept this. We need to do our best. We need to improve in every single position. It is only the beginning. Last season was the same, with noise around, but we finished third.”
The key moments from Craven Cottage
10: SAVE! Martinez flies a shot from just outside the Fulham box towards the top-corner after a half-cleared cross – but Leno stretches to push it away.
25: POST! Cunha gets around Affengruber and cuts the ball back but Fernandes steers his shot against the far post.
28: SAVE! Lammens saves Josh King’s volley from close quarters when the youngster meets Alex Iwobi’s cross.
31: CHANCES! Gonzalo Garcia miscues a volley and Sander Berge has his follow-up shot well saved by Lammens before Oscar Bobb drags wide from another good position for Fulham.
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31: POST! A big deflection loops Cunha’s shot over Leno and against the far post, with the ball coming back off the ‘keeper and out for a corner.
32: SAVE! Lammens is forced into another good stop, sticking out a leg to keep out King’s strike.
63: OWN GOAL! After a sleepy start to the second half, Bassey overpowers Cunha and fires a shot which Lammens parries – and is bundled back past him by Martinez
67: SAVE! Leno stretches to save Bryan Mbeumo’s curling shot.
74: SAVE! Leno again at full stretch to deny Cunha.
86: PENALTY APPEALS! Man Utd want a penalty for handball from Bassey after Martinez turns the ball against him. But his arms are tucked into his body.
89: GOAL! Cunha’s deflected shot grabs United a last-gasp equaliser.