Sport Discussed

By Ben Phillips August 17,, 2024

Manchester United began their Premier League season with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Fulham at Old Trafford, courtesy of a late winner from Joshua Zirkzee. The match, which marked the opening weekend of the 2024/25 season, was a tense and closely contested affair, with United ultimately securing all three points thanks to their young Dutch striker’s crucial goal.

A Cagey First Half

The first half was a cautious affair, with both teams showing early-season nerves and struggling to find their rhythm. Manchester United, playing in front of a packed Old Trafford, dominated possession but found it difficult to break down a well-organized Fulham defense.

Fulham, who finished 13th last season, were content to sit back and absorb the pressure, looking to hit United on the counterattack. Their defensive resilience was evident, as they restricted United to only a few half-chances, with Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes both seeing efforts blocked by the Fulham backline.

Despite United’s territorial dominance, the first 45 minutes ended goalless, with the home crowd growing increasingly anxious as their team struggled to find a breakthrough.

Second Half: United Push Forward

The second half saw Manchester United increase the tempo, with manager Erik ten Hag urging his players to be more aggressive in their approach. United’s midfield, led by new signing Sofyan Amrabat, began to exert greater control, allowing the home side to push Fulham deeper into their own half.

Fulham, however, remained resolute, with their goalkeeper Bernd Leno making a series of important saves to keep the score level. Leno denied a powerful header from Casemiro and later tipped a curling effort from Bruno Fernandez around the post, frustrating United’s attempts to take the lead.

Zirkzee’s Moment of Glory

As the clock ticked down, it seemed that Fulham might hold on for a valuable point. However, in the 88th minute, Manchester United finally found their breakthrough. Substitute Joshua Zirkzee, who had just been brought on, made an immediate impact. .

Fulham’s Response and Final Whistle

Fulham tried to muster a response in the final minutes, pushing men forward in search of an equalizer. However, United’s defense, marshaled by captain Harry Maguire, stood firm, and goalkeeper André Onana was rarely troubled.

The final whistle blew with Manchester United securing a 1-0 win, giving them a positive start to their Premier League campaign. While the performance was far from their best, the victory will be a welcome boost as they look to challenge for the title this season.

Post-Match Reactions

After the match, Erik ten Hag praised his team’s perseverance. “It wasn’t an easy game, but the players showed great character to keep pushing and eventually get the goal. Fulham made it difficult for us, but we stayed patient and got the result we needed,” Ten Hag said.

He also had words of praise for match-winner Zirkzee. “Joshua came on and made a big difference. He’s worked hard in pre-season, and it’s great to see him take his chance like that. We’ll need everyone in the squad to contribute this season, and today he did just that.”

Fulham manager Marco Silva, meanwhile, was disappointed with the result but proud of his team’s effort. “We defended very well for most of the game and limited a very strong United side to few chances. It’s frustrating to lose so late, but there are positives to take from our performance.”

Looking Ahead

Manchester United will be looking to build on this opening-day win as they prepare for a busy start to the season, with domestic and European commitments on the horizon. The victory over Fulham, while narrow, sets the tone for what United hope will be a successful campaign under Ten Hag.

For Fulham, the performance at Old Trafford, despite the result, will give them confidence as they look to establish themselves back in the Premier League. If they can maintain the defensive solidity they showed against United, they will be optimistic about their chances of avoiding a relegation battle.

As the Premier League season kicks off, both teams will now focus on their next fixtures, with Manchester United aiming to keep up their winning start and Fulham looking to bounce back from a narrow defeat.