Lisandro Martinez's deflected effort helped Manchester United secure an unconvincing 1-0 win over Fulham on Sunday night as they clinched a second Premier League win of 2025.
A dreary first half at Craven Cottage found little in the way of excitement, with an expected combined goal total of 0.42 flattering both sides. Fulham provided the brightest moments without Andre Onana often working but Alex Iwobi tested the keeper with two subdued efforts – the highlights of an extremely low-key affair.
Things didn't get much better after the break as both teams continued to look disjointed and unconvincing in the final third. Bruno Fernandes' clever but bottom line, which drew a few boos from the crowd but had something else to motivate or a group of supporters for the first 75 minutes.
However, a big slice of luck eventually broke the deadlock and made the traveling fans smile for the first time. Martinez let fly from 25 yards and the defender's strike took a considerable deflection off the hapless Sasa Lukic before curling into the top corner.
Fulham applied pressure in the closing stages as they looked for an equalizer and Joachim Andersen came close to securing an equalizer – the centre-back's close-range header was impressively cleared off the line by substitute Toby Collyer.
Amad Diallo thought he had added some gloss to the scoreline as he found the back of the net in the fifth minute of stoppage time, but VAR ultimately ruled the Ivorian's effort offside. In the end, it mattered little as United held on for an important win.
|
Player |
evaluation |
|---|---|
|
GC: Bernd leno |
5.6/10 |
|
RB: Timothy chestnuts |
6.7/10 |
|
CB: Joachim Andersen |
7.2/10 |
|
CB: Calvin Bassey |
7.2/10 |
|
LB: Antonee Robinson |
7.0/10 |
|
DM: Now good luck |
6.8/10 |
|
DM: Sander Berge |
6.9/10 |
|
RW: Harry Wilson |
6.2/10 |
|
AM: Emile Smith Rowe |
5.8/10 |
|
LW: Alex Iwobi |
6.2/10 |
|
ST: Raul Jimenez |
6.4/10 |
|
Under: Adama Traore (53' for Wilson) |
6.4/10 |
|
Under: Rodrigo Muniz (64' for Jimenez) |
5.7/10 |
|
Under: Andreas Pereira (83' for Smith Rowe) |
N/A |
|
Under: Tom Cairney (83' for Lukic) |
N/A |
Substrate not used: Steven Andreas-Benda (GK), Issa Diop, Jorge Cuenca, Harrison Reed, Joshua King.
|
Player |
evaluation |
|---|---|
|
GC: Andre Onan |
7.9/10 |
|
CB: Matthijs de Ligt |
6.9/10 |
|
CB: Harry Maguire |
7.5/10 |
|
CB: Lisandro Martinez |
8.2/10 |
|
RM: Diogo comes out |
7.3/10 |
|
CM: Manuel Ugarte |
7.4/10 |
|
CM: Bruno Fernandes |
7.1/10 |
|
LM: Noussair Mazraoui |
6.7/10 |
|
RF: Amad Diallo |
6.9/10 |
|
ST: Rasmus Hoylund |
5.8/10 |
|
LF: Alejandro garnacho |
6.7/10 |
|
Under: Joshua Zirkzee (58' for Hojlund) |
5.8/10 |
|
Under: Leny Yoro (58' for De Ligt) |
6.7/10 |
|
Under: Toby Collyer (76' for Ugarte) |
6.6/10 |
|
Under: Kobbie Mainoo (81' for Garnacho) |
N/A |
|
Under: Tyrell Malacia (81' for Mazraoui) |
N/A |
Signings used: Victor Lideof, Casemar, Christian Eriksen.