Fulham 1-1 Manchester United: A tale of missed chances and late drama at Craven Cottage

Fulham and Manchester United played a gripping 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage, both teams still seeking their first Premier League win.

Emily Smith Rowe scored the equaliser for Fulham. Image | premierleague.com

On Sunday, August 24, 2025, Fulham and Manchester United played out a thrilling 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage, a result that sees both sides struggling to find their first Premier League win of the season. Smith Rowe’s equaliser helped Fulham to manage their second draw in a row.

Match Details

Match: Fulham vs Manchester United, Premier League 2025/26

Date: 24 August 2025

Time: 9 pm IST

Venue: Craven Cottage

Goals: Rodrigo Muniz 58' (OG), Emile Smith Rowe (73’)

First Half: Missed opportunities and a crucial penalty miss

The encounter kicked off with both teams eager to secure a victory. Early on, United had a few chances with Cunha hitting the post at the start of the match.

However, soon, Fulham exerted pressure primarily through their dynamic right side, registering multiple corners in quick succession around the 19th minute, which kept United on the back foot.

United's attempts to be more direct were visible, with Casemiro frequently searching for teammates inside the box, though the precision needed was lacking at times.

The most pivotal moment before halftime came in the 36th minute when United were awarded a penalty after a VAR check confirmed a foul by Fulham’s Calvin Bassey on Mason Mount inside the box. This could have shifted the momentum decisively in United’s favor. However, captain Bruno Fernandes astonishingly blasted the penalty high over the bar a rare and costly miss that left the home crowd energized.

Fulham nearly capitalized on their set-piece opportunities late in the first half. A mix-up after a corner was salvaged by United’s Matthijs de Ligt, who executed a crucial block just before the break, keeping the scoreline level.

Second Half: Own Goal and Fulham’s late fightback

The second half began with high intensity, with Fulham probing the United defense, especially on the flanks. Early on, United’s Leni Yoro demonstrated his defensive and offensive capability by making key blocks and eventually scoring, albeit controversially, in the 58th minute.

Yoro’s header from a corner was deflected into his own net by Fulham’s Rodrigo Muniz, giving Manchester United a 1-0 lead and what seemed to be a much-needed breakthrough.

Following the goal, United made strategic substitutions, bringing on Diogo Dalot and Benjamin Sesko, while Fulham responded with attacking changes. The introduction of Emile Smith Rowe and Raul Jimenez had an immediate impact.

Fulham steadily grew back into the game, with players like Smith Rowe and Jimenez combining effectively to threaten the United goal.

The pressure culminated in the 73rd minute when substitute Smith Rowe, with his very first touch of the game, leveled the score. Iwobi provided the crucial cross, and although Jimenez couldn’t connect, Smith Rowe’s toe-poked finish into the net brought the Craven Cottage crowd to life.

The final stages saw both Fulham and United relentlessly pressing for a winner. United goalkeeper Bayındır was called into action multiple times, including a vital save in added time to deny Andersen from a corner. United’s defense, led by de Ligt and Yoro, made several crucial interventions, while Harry Maguire, introduced late, narrowly missed a header from a corner, inches from restoring United’s lead.

The match ended 1-1, leaving both sides still searching for their opening win of the Premier League campaign.

Fulham vs Manchester United: Lineup

Fulham Starting XI: B. Leno, K. Tete, J. Andersen, C. Bassey, T. Castagne, S. Lukić, S. Berge, R. Sessegnon, J. King, A. Iwobi, R. Muniz

Subs: Benjamin Lecomte, Jorge Cuenca, Antonee Robinson, Harrison Reed, Tom Cairney, Harry Wilson, Emile Smith Rowe, Adama Traoré, Raúl Jiménez

United Starting XI: A. Bayındır, L. Yoro, M. de Ligt, L. Shaw, A. Diallo, Casemiro, B. Fernandes, P. Dorgu, B. Mbeumo, M. Mount, M. Cunha

Subs: André Onana, Diogo Dalot, Ayden Heaven, Harry Maguire, Tyler Fredricson, Kobbie Mainoo, Manuel Ugarte, Benjamin Šeško, Joshua Zirkzee

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