Matheus Cunha’s 89th‑minute, deflected strike rescued a point for Manchester United as the visitors were held to a 1‑1 draw by Fulham, easing the pressure on Erik ten Hag’s side ahead of the upcoming international break. The match had already taken a turn for the worse when Lisandro Martínez inadvertently headed an own‑goal in the 23rd minute, forcing United to chase a result after a disappointing Carabao Cup exit to Brighton and a heavy defeat in the Manchester derby the previous weekend. United’s salvation arrived when a clever flick from David Affengruber set up the Brazilian forward, who managed to get his shot past the Fulham goalkeeper after a series of chaotic defensive lapses. Despite the late leveller, the Red Devils remain entrenched in the lower half of the Premier League table after five games, sitting ten points behind leaders Manchester City and far from the standards required to challenge for honors this season.
Their five‑point haul from five matches matches the club’s joint‑worst start in the modern era, a tally previously recorded in the 2014‑15 campaign. Sky Sports analyst Gary Neville labelled Martínez’s own‑goal "a real mess", noting how the defender’s attempt to clear a dangerous cross was poorly timed, allowing Fulham’s keeper Senne Lammens to parry the ball only for Martínez to nudge it back into the net.
The sequence epitomised United’s defensive frailties on the day, with Lammens’ clumsy attempt to smother the rebound underscoring the lack of composure at the back. Neville was even more critical of United’s build‑up play before the opening goal, describing the first 15 minutes of possession as "the worst 15 minutes I have ever seen Manchester United play".
The criticism centred on a passive, indecisive approach that failed to create clear chances, a pattern that has plagued the team in recent fixtures. The match could have swung dramatically in United’s favour had Bruno Fernandes found the net instead of striking the post from a well‑timed cut‑back by Cunha in the first half, or if the Brazilian’s heavily deflected effort had gone cleanly into the net rather than rattling the woodwork. Fulham’s keeper Bernd Leno was called upon repeatedly, making a series of full‑stretch saves to keep his side in the game. In the dying moments, Fulham’s goalkeeper was finally beaten when Cunha’s shot, after a series of deflections, slipped past Leno to level the score.
The goal was a bittersweet moment for United’s interim manager Álvaro Arbeloa, who is still seeking his first Premier League victory. Despite the disappointment, Arbeloa can take some solace from the performance, especially after United’s recent draw at Anfield, which helped them climb out of the bottom spot on goal difference. For United, the accumulation of sub‑par displays will undoubtedly set off alarm bells in Manchester.
While a point at Craven Cottage is better than a loss, the squad must use the upcoming three‑week international pause to regroup, make tactical adjustments, and rediscover the form required to fulfil the club’s lofty ambitions. Cunha spoke to Sky Sports after the match, expressing his frustration: "It is so frustrating for us. We started well, created chances, but we didn’t score and then they scored in one action. It’s hard to explain.
After the goal we played much better and showed character, but it should have started that way. One point isn’t enough; we can’t settle for that. They had more energy than us, and we need to improve in every position. It’s only the beginning.
Last season we had similar noise, but we finished third." Manager Michael Carrick also shared his thoughts: "I thought we should've won. We created enough chances to win. The goal we conceded was one of those unlucky ones. I liked the reaction and how we finished the game – it could have gone the other way.
We almost won at the end. Their goalkeeper was the player of the match, and we hit the post twice.
There are positives to take from this performance." Fulham’s boss, Álvaro Arbeloa, was initially outspoken about refereeing decisions, claiming the team was unlucky and that several calls went against them, including a foul on Harry Maguire. He later tempered his comments, acknowledging his limited English and the need to focus on his team’s performance rather than officiating. "I’m not really happy, but I need to stay calm, focus on the players, the systems, and improve for the next game," he said.
Key moments of the match included: - 10' – Martínez’s shot from just outside the box was saved by Leno. - 25' – Cunha’s cut‑back was turned into the far post by Fernandes.
- 28' – Lammens saved a close‑range volley from Josh King. - 31' – Gonzalo García missed a volley, and Sander Berge’s follow‑up was denied by Lammens. - 31' – A deflected shot from Cunha hit the far post before bouncing off Leno for a corner. - 63' – Own‑goal: Bassey’s powerful strike was parried by Lammens and then turned past him by Martínez.
- 67' – Leno saved a curling effort from Bryan Mbeumo. - 74' – Leno again denied Cunha with a full‑stretch save. - 86' – United appealed for a penalty after a possible handball by Bassey, but the referee ruled no foul.
- 89' – Cunha’s deflected effort secured the equaliser. The draw leaves United with five points from five games, a tally that mirrors their joint‑worst start in recent history. The team must now look to the international break as an opportunity to reset, address defensive lapses, and find a more proactive style of play if they hope to climb the table and challenge for silverware later in the season.