Match Report
Manchester United(1) 3-2 (0) Fulham
Premier League Match Day 24 25/26 at Old Trafford
Sunday 1st February 2026 KO: 14:00
Referee:
John Brooks (Leicestershire)
Live on Sky Sports
|
A late Fulham comeback ended up counting for little as a stoppage time Benjamin Sesko strike condemned us to a 3-2 defeat at Old Trafford.
After trailing to Casemiro’s header from a controversial free-kick and Matheus Cunha’s thumping finish, the Whites fought back brilliantly through Raúl Jiménez’s exquisite penalty and Kevin’s gorgeous long ranger.
But United had the final say, with Sesko coolly finding the top corner after being allowed to control, shape and shoot in the area, denying the boys what would have been a richly deserved point.
Marco Silva made just one change to the side that faced Brighton a week earlier, as Samuel Chukwueze was rewarded for his goal off the bench with a start at the expense of Kevin.
After an early Joachim Andersen effort from 20 yards that flew over, Amad Diallo had the game’s first shot on target when he cut inside onto his left foot and curled one towards the top corner that Bernd Leno palmed away.
Harry Maguire drew another routine save from Leno at a corner, but it was from a set-play of our own at the other end that the deadlock was almost broken, Senne Lammens making an excellent reaction stop to deny Andersen’s flick.
Referee John Brooks awarded United a penalty after quarter of an hour, believing Jorge Cuenca had fouled Cunha, but VAR spotted that the Fulham man got a toe on the ball and downgraded the decision to a free-kick on the edge of the box for a holding offence – a decision that felt soft. Frustratingly, they stuck it away anyway when Casemiro headed in Bruno Fernandes’ delivery.
The Whites response came through a swept Chukwueze shot, but a deflection off Diogo Dalot made it simple for Lammens.
Alex Iwobi then took aim with a daisy cutter from range that called Lammens into action again.
| Match Stats |
Man Utd | .
Fulham |
| Goals |
(1) 3 |
2 (0) |
|
| Scorers |
Casemiro 19 |
Jimenez 85 pen |
|
Cunha 56 |
Kevin 90+1 |
|
Sesco 90+4 |
- |
| , |
| Goal attempts |
13 |
14 |
| On target |
6 |
6 |
| Shooting Accuracy |
46% |
43% |
| Possession |
42% |
58% |
| Passes |
421 |
561 |
| Passes Success |
87% |
90% |
| Crosses |
12 |
28 |
| Crosses Success |
50% |
29% |
| Corners |
3 |
7 |
| Tackles |
9 |
12 |
-->
| Tackles Success |
41% |
71% |
| Saves |
4 |
3 |
| Fouls |
6 |
9 |
| Offsides |
1 |
2 |
| Yellows |
2 |
1 |
| Reds |
0 |
0 |
| source: SkySports |
The home side fashioned the first opening of the second half when Dalot slid Bryan Mbeumo in, but Leno raced out to save bravely.
It was Fulham’s turn to threaten next, with a dangerous Chukwueze ball across the face hacked away by Lisandro Martinez, before Lammens made a fine reaction save to keep out a Harry Wilson free-kick.
But it was soon 2-0, Cunha rifling high into the net after he had been slipped in by Casemiro’s no-look pass.
We thought we reduced the deficit when Cuenca reacted first to lash home after Raúl’s free-kick was blocked, but after a seemingly never-ending VAR check, an offside was found to rule it out.
United brought on Sesko and the striker nearly scored with his first touch, sending his header against the post and then nodding the follow-up over.
As we entered the final 10 minutes, a lovely Andersen cross dropped over the head of Maguire, allowing Raúl to bring it down and poke goalwards, but Lammens got fingertips to push it behind.
Fulham were refusing to lie down and were handed a lifeline when Raúl was chopped by Maguire in the box. Our number seven dusted himself down to step up and dispatch a wonderful penalty into the top corner, making himself the outright most successful spot-kick taker in Premier League history.
Buoyed by nine minutes of added time, we struck a deserved equaliser in the first of them when Kevin rattled home his first Premier League goal for the Club in emphatic style, whipping a beautiful strike into the postage stamp from the edge of the box.
Sickeningly, though, there was another twist, with Sesko rifling home to secure the points for United.
Fulham boss Marco Silva:
expressed his frustration at Man Utd's opening goal after the game, suggesting he had been given different communication on the touchline about the decision.
"The game started with a horrendous, terrible decision from John Brooks with the penalty he gave," Silva told Sky Sports.
"A big, big mistake. It was the first time we had seen in the Premier League that the referee gave a penalty from a tackle and after the VAR came back with a free-kick.
"The communication I had on the touchline was that the penalty was given for the tackle and they came with a different foul after.
"Because the decision was so bad, they found a different foul like the pull."
Manchester United: Lammens, D Dalot (Mazraoui 86), Maguire, Martínez, Shaw, Casemiro (Ugarte 75), Mainoo, Diallo, B Fernandes, Matheus Cunha (Sesko 74), Mbeumo (Yoro 96)
Unused substitutes: Bayindir, Zirkzee, Malacia, Heaven, Lacey
Goals:
Casemiro 19 (CASEMIRO HEADS MAN UTD IN FRONT!
Man Utd thought they had a penalty, but they score from the free-kick instead!
Fernandes lifts the free-kick to the back post where Casemiro climbs above Cuenca and powers a header into the right corner. )
Cunha 56 (CUNHA SMASHES IN!
Breathing space for Man Utd!
Casemiro threads a lovely no-look pass through to Cunha in the area and he thumps a first-time shot into the roof of the net past Leno.
There was no stopping that and how about that pass from Casemiro?!)
Sesco 90+4 (SESKO PUTS UNITED BACK IN FRONT!
Incredible! Old Trafford goes wild!
Fernandes does brilliantly on the right to beat Bassey with a clever dummy.
He sends in a low ball for Sesko in the area. The striker controls before slamming a right-footed shot into the top right corner.
It's a wonderful finish! United had thrown it away just minutes ago!)
Yellow Card: Casemiro (f,64), Maguire (f,83)
Fulham: Leno, Castagne, Andersen, Cuenca (Bassey 86), Robinson (Sessegnon 71), Iwobi, Berge, Wilson, Smith Rowe (Kevin 71), Chukwueze (Cairney 79), Jimenez
Unused substitutes: Tete, Reed, Kusi-Asare, Lecomte, King
Goals:
Raul Jimenez 85 pen(AND NOW IT'S GAME ON
What a penalty by Jimenez.
The striker stutters in his run-up with Lammens not moving on his line.
The goalkeeper flies to his right, guessing correctly, but Jimenez's spot kick nestles in the top left corner. It is perfect!
And now it's game on!)
Kevin 90+1 (KEVIN SILENCES OLD TRAFFORD WITH A BEAUTY!
Man Utd have blown a two-goal lead!
Kevin cuts inside from the left and sends a wonderful curling effort into the top right corner.
What a moment for the substitute!
Cunha won it late on for United last week, but this time they're on the receiving end of a late equaliser. )
Yellow Card: Andersen (f,42)
Referee:
John Brooks (Leicestershire)
Attendance: 0
Fulham are next in action at 15:00 Saturday 7th February 2026 when they meet up with Everton at Craven Cottage.