Match Report
Fulham (0) 1-2 (1) Manchester United
Premier League Match Day 15 22/23 at Craven Cottage
Sunday 13th November 2022 KO: 16:30
Referee:
Paul Tierney (Lancashire)
Live on Sky
|
Manchester United teenager Alejandro Garnacho struck in the third minute of stoppage time to clinch a dramatic 2-1 victory over Fulham in the final Premier League game before the World Cup.
The Cottagers were moments from holding Erik ten Hag's side to a draw after Dan James (61) had cancelled out Christian Eriksen's first goal for Manchester United (14) with his first for the Whites against his former side, but substitute Garnacho broke their hearts.
The 18-year-old, fresh from an outstanding cameo in United's 4-2 win over Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup on Thursday, latched onto Eriksen's through-ball and clipped a composed finish beyond Bernd Leno for his first Premier League goal with just seconds remaining.
Manchester United had earlier missed a succession of chances in the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese international absent again having missed their midweek game with an apparent illness, while David de Gea also made several fine stops.
But Garnacho's remarkable winner enhanced his already burgeoning reputation and ensured Manchester United will head into the six-week domestic break for the World Cup only three points behind fourth-placed Tottenham having played one game less.
| Match Stats |
Fulham |
Man Utd |
| Goals |
(0) 1 |
2 (1) |
|
| Scorers |
James 61 |
Eriksen 14 |
| Scorers |
- |
Garnacho 90+3 |
|
| Goal attempts |
14 |
14 |
| On target |
7 |
9 |
| Shooting Accuracy |
50% |
64% |
| Possession |
53% |
47% |
| Passes Success |
79% |
79% |
| Corners |
10 |
3 |
| Tackles Success |
44% |
58% |
| Saves |
8 |
6 |
| Fouls |
9 |
10 |
| Offsides |
1 |
2 |
| Yellows |
1 |
1 |
| Reds |
0 |
0 |
| source: SkySports |
Ronaldo's absence dominated the pre-match discussion, but it was that of the suspended Diogo Dalot which most affected United early on, the hosts repeatedly targeting his makeshift replacement Tyrell Malacia, who was playing out of position.
Fulham got in behind him several times, Willian on one occasion teeing up Carlos Vinicius for a low effort which was repelled by De Gea, but the final ball was too often lacking.
The visitors were more clinical, taking the lead when Casemiro robbed Tom Cairney, allowing Eriksen to start the attack and then finish it, charging forward to slide home Bruno Fernandes' deflected cross-shot having fed Anthony Martial in the build-up.
Fulham continued to probe at the other end, with Willian curling an effort wide and Harry Wilson forcing another save from De Gea, but United should have extended their lead before the break.
Martial was culpable on two occasions, first denied by Leno after latching onto Fernandes' through-ball, then heading wastefully over the bar from Luke Shaw's left-wing cross.
There was also a clear opportunity for Eriksen when Fernandes, playing his 100th Premier League game for United, picked him out with a cut-back, only for the Dane to fire just past the post.
United picked up where they left off at the start of the second half, creating chances but failing to convert them, with Anthony Elanga, Marcus Rashford and Martial once again guilty.
Fulham were emboldened by those misses and soon they were testing De Gea again at the other end, with the Spaniard, left out of his country's World Cup squad this week, saving smartly from Vinicius' swivel and shot and Tim Ream's header.
Marco Silva responded by throwing on James and the Wales international, on loan with the Cottagers having left Manchester United for Leeds a year ago, delivered the equaliser almost immediately when he dispatched Cairney's centre.
There were more Fulham opportunities to come as United struggled to regain a foothold in the game, with the impressive Joao Palhinha forcing a save from De Gea with an acrobatic effort before sending a header over the bar.
But the final word was to be Garnacho's.
The teenager had looked menacing on United's left flank having replaced Martial, at one point seeing a penalty appeal waved away after a coming together with Antonee Robinson, and he delivered the match-winning moment in brilliant style, his low finish from Eriksen's pass clinching three points for United and hinting once again at a tantalisingly bright future.
Silva: We were the best team
Fulham boss Marco Silva said: "Of course, it's really tough to take. Twice in seven days for us with a late goal and we lost the chance to have more points in the table.
"With the way we have been playing, it's really tough, but this one is different because I think we were the best team on the pitch.
"Our second half was even better than the first one. We created chances, we equalised the game and unfortunately we conceded a goal when we wanted to score a second.
"The way they scored their second goal was really tough to take. It's the Premier League. You switch off, and they punish you.
"The boys don't deserve it, our fans as well. The crowd was always there, helping us. It's cruel. But we have to learn from these moments."
Asked what he said to Garnacho after the game,
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag replied: "Well done!
"It's a massive win and Alejandro Garnacho had a big impact. He finalised and then the spotlight is always on that and that is justified because it was a great finish.
"It's what we expect from subs coming on but you have to do it and I'm really happy with his progress. We have an extra player in the squad.
"I'm happy for the academy that they have brought out a player - and the coaches, who have done good work.
"So, great, but also, I want to emphasise the way we scored that goal, all the way from the back to the front, showed composure. I think it was a massive, brilliant assist from Christian Eriksen.
"It would be weird if I said I knew [what would happen] before [sending Garnacho on]. It's a little bit the feeling that you have. You need an eye for it.
"Sometimes I'm wrong as well, but in this case I saw his improvement in the last months and you could see his potential.
"We knew it was the right point to bring him in, but you can't know that he will have such an impact before.
"This shows what real talents can do. But there is still, for him, a long way to go. He has to keep his feet on the ground.
"He has to do much more investment because he will be recognisable for everyone, so it's much more important to confirm it. Big players know that. Young players don't.
"Now, a four-week break is already a danger for him, because he now has momentum. Let's see how he comes back. We have to manage that with him but when his energy is good, I'm certain he will have an impact."
Fulham: Leno, De Cordova-Reid, Diop, Ream, Robinson, Willian, Palhinha, Cairney (Onomah 92), Wilson (James 59), Pereira, VinÃcius
Unused substitutes: Duffy, Sekularac, Harris, Chalobah, Tosin, Mbabu, Rodak
Goals:
James 61 (right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal following a fast break.)
Booked: De Cordova-Reid (33,f),
Manchester United: de Gea, Shaw, Lindelof, Martinez, Malacia, Elanga (McTominay 55), Casemiro, Eriksen, Fernandes, Rashford, Martial (Garnacho 72)
Unused substitutes: Iqbal, Dubravka, Maguire, Fred, van de Beek, Bishop
Goals:
Eriksen 14 (right footed shot from very close range to the bottom right corner following a fast break.)
Garnacho 90+3 (left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Christian Eriksen with a through ball.)
Booked: Garnacho (94,ex cel),
Referee:
Paul Tierney (Lancashire)
Attendance: 24,246