Fulham 1, Manchester United 2
Alejandro Garnacho provided a famous injury time winner at Fulham to snatch all three points for Manchester United.
Embed from Getty ImagesUnited had taken an early lead through Christian Eriksen but they were pegged back by a second half equaliser by ex-Red Daniel James an an end to end game.
Both sides had chances to win it but it looked like Fulham would hold on for a deserved point before the Reds earned a late victory for a sixth win in a row at Craven Cottage.
The win leaves United in 5th but they have a game in hand over Tottenham in 4th who are now just 3 points ahead of them.
United boss Erik ten Hag was delighted with the way United signed off before the an enforced break, explaining that he could sense things coming together for United.
He said: “This win is even more important before the World Cup break.
He continued: “I would say in the last week we had some subs who came in and had a big impact.
Ten Hag reserved praise for match-winner Alejandro Garnacho and his coolness under pressure, adding: “Don’t overreact, but to have that skill to perform under stress – well done!
“I think we have a base, and we are going in the right direction. The culture and mentality has changed.
“We have improved, and today is the symbol of it when we get a win the last seconds of the game.
“We are a young team, a United team, with togetherness. The staff, dressing room, directors, and the fans.”
Both sides were missing their iconic strikers – with Aleksandar Mitrovic and Cristiano Ronaldo missing from their respective match day squads on the eve of the World Cup.
Christian Eriksen opened the scoring in the 14th minute with his first goal for United after Casemiro won the ball and fed the Dane who quickly started a counter attack that ended with a deflected ball into the box by Bruno Fernandes which the United playmaker put away from close range.
It was an open game and there had already been chances saved by David De Gea from Carlos Vinicius while Bernd Leno saved a shot by Anthony Martial.
Eriksen almost doubled the lead on the stroke of half time but drilled his shot wide of the post.
United’s first change strangely saw Scott McTominay replace Anthony Elanga after 55 minutes which removed one of their more attacking players in order to try and take control of midfield from the outstanding Joao Palhinha.
And Fulham took full advantage with an equaliser after 61 minutes after Fulham substitute Daniel James got between Luke Shaw and Lisandro Martinez and poked home a deflected pass into the area by Tom Cairney after Willian had carried the the ball upfield following a turn-over where Fernandes lost the ball on United’s right flank.
James, who spent two years with the Reds between 2019 and 2021, became the tenth player to score against them after playing for them in the Premier League era.
Palhinha’s overhead kick was saved by De Gea who also held James’ tame follow-up.
United were poor after conceding the goal and it was no surprise that more changes had to be made to inject more energy into the side.
Alejandro Garnacho replaced Anthony Martial for the last 17 minutes as United chased a winner in the London rain – the Argentine player was refused a penalty by Paul Tierney after losing out to Bobby Decordova-Reid while trying to go past him in the box.
McTominay missed the target with a free header while Fernandes fell under pressure from Antonee Robinson but there was no appealing for a penalty this time from the usually vocal but now soaked Portuguese.
Victor Lindelof blocked crosses from James and Andreas Pereira with Carlos Vinicius waiting while Bruno Fernandes had nobody to head the ball to in the centre of the six yard box.
And as the game drifted into the final minute of added time Garnacho provided another injury time sting in the tail for the Cottagers for the second weekend in a row.
The Argentine exchanged passes with Eriksen before outpacing Decordova-Reid into the penalty area and slipping the ball past Leno to win it for United with his second goal for United.