Match Report
Fulham (0) 1-1 (0) Manchester United
Premiership Match Day 02 25/26 at Craven Cottage
Sunday 24th August 2025 KO: 16:30
Referee:
Chris Kavanagh (Lancashire)
Live on Sky
|
Fulham midfielder Emile Smith Rowe’s goal earned Fulham a point at home to Manchester United on Sunday afternoon.
Impactful substitute Smith Rowe provided the response to Leny Yoro’s opener.
Bruno Fernandes skied a first-half penalty for United, while Altay Bayindir made a couple of smart saves to deny Josh King and Alex Iwobi.
After Yoro’s scrappy opener, which took a wicked deflection off Rodrigo Muniz, we were successful in our search for an equalising goal as Smith Rowe met Iwobi’s cross to earn us a point at the Cottage.
Marco Silva made three changes to the side that drew at Brighton, rewarding Rodrigo Muniz for the significant role he played in helping claim that result, while also handing Ryan Sessegnon and Timothy Castagne their first starts of the season. Raúl Jiménez, Harry Wilson and Jorge Cuenca made way.
Summer signing Matheus Cunha decided to try and test Bernd Leno early, but our goalkeeper was always in control as the Brazilian’s shot whistled over the bar.
There was nothing Leno could do as Cunha put the ball through Bassey’s legs, guiding a shot towards the bottom corner, with the post coming to Fulham’s rescue.
| Match Stats |
Fulham |
Man Utd |
| Goals |
(0) 1 |
1 (0) |
|
| Scorers |
Smith Rowe 73 |
Muniz og 58 |
| , |
| Goal attempts |
13 |
10 |
| On target |
4 |
3 |
| Shooting Accuracy |
31% |
30% |
| Possession |
52% |
48% |
| Passes |
335 |
323 |
| Passes Success |
84% |
82% |
| Crosses |
33 |
14 |
| Crosses Success |
30% |
29% |
| Corners |
9 |
6 |
| Tackles |
10 |
17 |
| Saves |
3 |
2 |
| Fouls |
12 |
10 |
| Offsides |
2 |
1 |
| Yellows |
1 |
1 |
| Reds |
0 |
0 |
| source: SkySports |
Chances for the visiting side were a common theme in the early exchanges as Leno was forced into his first save, parrying Fernandes’ dipping effort to safety.
But a smart King run sparked us into life as the 18-year-old latched onto a Sessegnon pass and was only denied by the toes of Bayindir, who had taken up a good starting position to narrow the angle.
Somehow, the game was still goalless despite a number of chances at both ends. We could have gone behind in the 15th minute as the impressive Cunha got on the end of a route one Bayindir punt, with Leno making a sensational stop from close range.
This really was a battle of the shot-stoppers in the first-half as Bayindir did well to watch an Iwobi strike come through a number of bodies before tipping the ball wide.
There was then time to breathe for the Cottage crowd following a high-octane start, although Manchester United were presented with an opportunity to take the lead 10 minutes before the break.
Calvin Bassey was adjudged to have hauled Mason Mount to the ground following a lengthy VAR check.
Fernandes blasted his wild penalty well over the bar and into the Hammy End from 12 yards.
A couple of chances from Saša Lukic inswingers saw us finish the half strongly. Muniz couldn’t get enough contact on a header after sneaking to the back post unnoticed, while Matthijs de Ligt blocked a Castagne effort.
Leno was called into action early into the second period to beat away an Amad Diallo shot from a tight angle.
The deadlock was broken in scrappy circumstances just before the hour mark. Yoro’s header took a cruel deflection off Muniz’s back, which wrong footed a helpless Leno.
As we searched for a response, Iwobi had Bayindir worried as his controlled volley dropped on top of the net.
Smith Rowe had been introduced to the action in our quest for an equaliser – and his impact was instant. He made a perfectly timed run from deep into the box and met Iwobi’s cross with a deft touch past Bayindir.
United almost had a super sub of their own as Harry Maguire saw a late header drop just wide of Leno’s post.
Fulham: Leno, Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Sessegnon (Robinson 62), Lukic, Berge, Castagne (Wilson 62), King (Smith Rowe 71), Iwobi, Muniz (Jimenez 71)
Unused substitutes: Reed, Cairney, Traore, Cuenca, Lecomte
Goals:
Smith Rowe 73(SMITH ROWE LEVELS IT UP FOR FULHAM!
Well, that substitution worked! Smith Rowe taps in the equaliser for Fulham seconds after coming on. Iwobi's cross was a delightful one, curling away from the United defenders and too far ahead of Bayindir for him to come and claim it.
We're all square with 15 minutes to go.
That could've been his first touch!)
Yellow Card:
Lukic (f,86),
Manchester United: Bayindir, Yoro (Heaven 87), de Ligt, Shaw (Maguire 87), Diallo (D Dalot 52), Casemiro (Sesko 53), Fernandes, Dorgu, Mbeumo, Mount (Ugarte 69), Cunha
Unused substitutes: Zirkzee, Onana, Fredricson, Mainooano
Goals: Muniz og 58 (Amorim's side finally have their first goal of the season! Yoro's header, which didn't look to be heading on target, deflects off Muniz and into the back of the net! It looked like he got away with a push on Bassey before connecting with the ball...
Incident cleared, United have their lead!)
Yellow Card: Casemiro (sim,39),
Referee:
Samuel Barrott (West Riding)
Attendance: N/A
Fulham are next in action at 19.45 next Wednesday, 27th August, when they welcome Bristol City to Craven Cottage in Round Two of the League Cup.