Despite having to play away at Fulham, Manchester United still entered the match full of excitement. Arranged to play as a virtual striker, Mason Mount is active and constantly connects with the spearheads in the attack.
In the 2nd minute, the English player made a favorable pass for Matheus Cunha to finish close to the 16.5 m line, but the ball hit the post.
In the 14th minute, Cunha continued to have the opportunity after a long, accurate serve from goalkeeper Altay Bayindir. However, the Brazilian striker could not beat Bernd Leno in the face-off situation.
After two missed shots, the "Red Devils" are facing a golden opportunity to take the lead. In the 36th minute, the referee consulted VAR and determined that Mount had fallen in the penalty area. The away team was awarded a penalty, but captain Bruno Fernandes made fans regretful when he shot the ball over the bar.
Meanwhile, Fulham chose a solid playing style in the midfield, making it difficult for Man United to deploy the ball. The Craven Cottage team also continuously created a storm with set pieces.
In the first 45 minutes, Fulham was awarded 5 corners, and in all 5 times, the Bayindir goalkeeper had a confusing handle. Formed into a team that had many changes, but luck was on the "Red Devils" side, helping them escape the loss before the break.
In the second half, Man United pushed up their formation but were still stuck in front of Fulham's dense defense. Faced with a difficult situation, coach Ruben Amorim decided to change personnel from the 52nd minute. Casemiro left the pitch to make way for new signing Benjamin Sesko, while Amad Diallo was withdrawn for Dalot to strengthen his right wing.
When Sesko had not yet left his mark, a defender became the turning point for Man United in the 58th minute. From a corner kick taken by Bryan Mbeumo, Leny Yoro jumped high to head the ball, the ball hit Rodrigo Muniz and changed direction into the net.
The Premier League organizers later determined that this was an own goal by the Fulham striker.
However, the joy of M.U fans was quickly overwhelmed with cold water. In the 74th minute, Dalot handled the error, creating an opportunity for Fulham to counterattack. From the left wing, Alex Iwobi made an accurate pass for substitute Emile Smith-Rowe to run in and finish close to the goal. The former Arsenal player defeated Bayindir and brought the match back to the starting lineup.
In the final minutes, Amorim sent the defenders Maguire and Heaven onto the pitch to take advantage of suspensions from both sides. However, Man United's efforts were not enough as Fulham's defense remained steady until the final whistle.
In the end, Man United accepted and went home with a draw. This is also their first point in the Premier League this year.
