Manchester United delivered an impressive performance as they secured a hard-fought victory over Fulham in this weekend Premier League fixture at Craven Cottage. The Red Devils claimed a 2-1 win, solidifying their push for a top-four finish.
The match started on an intense note, with both sides eager to take control. Fulham, cheered on by their home crowd, looked sharp in the opening exchanges, creating early chances through forward Carlos VinÃcius. However, United defense, marshaled by Lisandro MartÃnez, held firm.
In the 23rd minute, Manchester United broke the deadlock through Bruno Fernandes. The Portuguese maestro latched onto a precise pass from Christian Eriksen and fired a low shot into the bottom corner, leaving Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno with no chance.
Fulham responded valiantly, and their persistence paid off just before halftime. In the 42nd minute, Harry Wilson found the back of the net with a stunning curling effort from outside the box, leveling the score at 1-1.
The second half saw United increase their intensity. Marcus Rashford, a constant threat on the left wing, terrorized Fulham defense with his pace and trickery. In the 68th minute, Rashford provided the decisive moment, scoring the winning goal with a clinical finish after combining beautifully with Alejandro Garnacho.
Fulham pressed for an equalizer late in the game, but Manchester United defense stood resolute, with goalkeeper Andra Onana making a crucial save in stoppage time to deny Fulham a share of the points.
After the match, United manager Erik ten Hag praised his team resilience.lt was a tough game, but the boys showed great character. Rashford and Fernandes were exceptional, and this win keeps us in the race for our season objectives.
Fulham manager Marco Silva commended his side effort but lamented missed opportunities. We played well but were punished for not taking our chances. Credit to United for their quality in key moments.
The victory sees Manchester United climb to 4th place in the league table, while Fulham remain mid-table as they aim to stabilize their campaign.
United will look to build on this momentum as they prepare for their next match, while Fulham will hope to bounce back in their upcoming fixtures.