Manchester United capped off their worst week in the Michael Carrick era with a comeback 1-1 draw at Fulham who ranked dead last in the league ahead of kickoff.
Furthering the frustration for the Reds, United scored both the goals in the match.
Fulham’s Calvin Bassey forced a turnover off Matheus Cunha in the 63rd minute and raced up the pitch before powering a left-footed shot which forced Senne Lammens to deflect it away from goal. The ricochet fell to Lisandro Martinez who tried to clear it but
mis-hit the ball which beat Lammens to the back of the net.
United couldn’t save themselves from total embarrassment until the 89th minute.
Patrick Dorgu received the ball on the left wing before squaring a short pass back to Cunha. The winger took one touch to his right and ripped a shot on target while Fulham’s Bernd Leno went in the wrong direction.
The effort would only save the point as United failed to pull off stoppage-time heroics at Craven Cottage.
The first half proved to be quite drama-free in spite of United’s 16 shots and Fulham’s nine; so much so that the ref blew the whistle when his watch hit 45 minutes. United created some half chances but failed to keep most on target (12) and Fulham keeper Bernd Leno was only required to make routine saves.
Their best scoring chance of the half came in the 25th minute when Cunha received a pass up the right side and into the box. The forward battled with his defender as he carried the ball to the backline before cutting a pass back to the middle. Bruno Fernandes was there to run on the ball and one-time a shot which beat Leno but clanged off the far post.
United are now off for several weeks for the men’s international break. The Reds return to Old Trafford on Saturday, Oct. 10 to host Tottenham who are now in last place following Fulham’s point earned. United will then head to Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, Oct. 13, for their next match in the UEFA Champions League.
