24 February 2024 , 18:51
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Alex Iwobi burst Manchester United’s balloon in spectacular style to surely leave Sir Jim Ratcliffe with a face redder than his club’s shirts.
In his first week officially in charge of football operations, United’s new investor talked up his dream of catching and over-taking Manchester City and Liverpool. But it was his United who were knocked off their five match winning perch by a scintillating Fulham display of courage and, in the end, mental strength.
And Marco Silva's stars even rubbed salt in Ratcliffe’s wounds by conjuring a Fergie-time winner, expertly fired home by Iwobi on a devastating Fulham break in the seventh minute of time added on. It was their first Old Trafford win in 20 years - and richly deserved as United’‘s recent revival was dramatically stopped in its tracks.
United fans thought it might be their stars who could snatch victory in nine minutes of injury time after Harry Maguire had equalised a minute from normal time with a close range finish. The Red Devils, second best for most of the game, looked to be finishing strongly as Fulham failed to hang on to a 1-0 lead after defender Calvin Bassey smashed home a super 65th minute strike.
But no-one can dispute Fulham weren’t worth a victory that has badly damaged United’s top four hopes. Losing Rasmus Hojlund to a training ground injury was always going to be a big blow for United after his explosive recent goalscoring form.
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Without him, United’s attack lacked the central focus, energy and threat that’s been a feature of a revival that brought them into the game on the back of five straight wins, four in the League. And boy, didn’t Fulham take full advantage.
Silva’s men settled quickly and posed United’s defence a host of problems throughout the game. In fact, United couldn’t have complained if they’d been a couple of goals down in the opening twenty minutes with Iwobi missing two golden chances.
First he scuffed a shot past Onana’s right hand post after a Muniz knock-down then the Fulham star dragged his shot past the same upright after Pereira’s pass. While United struggled for rhythm, Fulham kept probing and Onana made a fine save from a Muniz header following Pereira’s corner with Lukic unable to turn the loose ball home.
Alex Iwobi celebrates his winning goal against Man United (Getty Images)What went wrong for Man United vs Fulham? Share your thoughts in the comments below
United were disjointed and their first decent effort took 27 minutes to come with Antonee Robinson heading a goal bound shot from Alejandro Garnacho off the line. Dalot struck a shot against the base of the post too, but Fulham repeatedly picked holes in United’s defence, an ominous sign ahead of next Sunday’s Manchester derby against title-chasing City.
Muniz spun Lindelof and crashed a shot against the outside of the post as United got lucky again. A clash of heads with Reed saw a bloodied Casemiro replaced by Scott McTominay while teenage midfielder Omari Forson, making his first League start, was hooked for Christian Eriksen.
Despite the changes Fulham continued to impress and Bassey’s goal came as no real surprise. United finally woke up, piling on the pressure which brought Maguire’s goal and the promise of victory. But this was Fulham’s day - and deservedly so.
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