Manchester United secured a 1-0 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Lisandro Martinez’s deflected strike proved decisive in a game where chances were at a premium.
The first half was far from an attacking spectacle, with neither side able to stamp their authority on the game.
Fulham started brightly, with Alex Iwobi causing problems down the left flank. The Nigerian winger tested Andre Onana twice but failed to truly trouble the United goalkeeper.
Fulham’s best chance of the half fell to Emile Smith Rowe, who found himself one-on-one with Onana but failed to hit the target, lifting his effort harmlessly wide.
United, meanwhile, struggled to get into the game. Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes showed glimpses of creativity, but the visitors managed just one shot in the opening 45 minutes – their lowest first-half tally in a Premier League match since April 2024.
It’s three points on the road for the Reds 🔴👊#MUFC || #FULMUN
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 26, 2025
The second half began in the same vein, with both teams struggling to generate meaningful chances.
Fulham introduced Rodrigo Muniz and Adama Traore in an attempt to inject energy into their attack, while United made several changes, including the introduction of Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee. However, clear-cut opportunities remained elusive, and the game appeared destined for a stalemate.
The breakthrough finally came in the 78th minute, and it was a moment of fortune for the visitors. Garnacho’s pull-back from the left found Toby Collyer, who couldn’t quite get a shot away.
The ball ricocheted to Martinez, who struck from outside the box. His ambitious effort took a heavy deflection off Sasa Lukic, looping over Bernd Leno and into the far corner. Craven Cottage was stunned, and United had the lead.
Fulham threw everything at United in the final moments. Timothy Castagne and Muniz both came close, with Muniz skying a golden opportunity from close range deep into stoppage time
A chaotic sequence saw Andreas Pereira’s corner flicked on by Joachim Andersen, only for Collyer to clear off the line. Fulham appealed for a goal, but replays confirmed the ball hadn’t crossed.
United thought they had added a second in the dying moments when Mainoo and Amad Diallo combined beautifully, with the latter firing home. However, VAR intervened, ruling the goal out for offside, leaving Fulham with faint hope.
Despite Fulham’s late pressure, United held on to claim a vital three points.
