Joshua Zirkzee emerged from the bench to score an 87th-minute winner as Manchester United beat Fulham 1-0 in the opening game of the Premier League season. It had looked like Erik ten Hag’s side would be frustrated by The Cottagers at Old Trafford until the Netherlands international, signed from Bologna over the summer, popped up with a late goal having started the match as a substitute.
Joshua Zirkzee of Manchester United celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Fulham FC.
Image credit: Getty Images
Debutant Joshua Zirkzee helped Manchester United kick off the new Premier League season with a win, as he rose off the bench to convert a wonderful goal in a 1-0 success against Fulham.
The visitors had a huge early chance when Kenny Tete was denied by Andre Onana, before Bernd Leno made a pair of terrific saves from Bruno Fernandes at the other end.
TALKING POINT – Zirkzee adds the spark
Manchester United paid a lot of money to sign Zirkzee from Bologna in the summer, and he showed just why with a moment of magic.
The striker had actually not been too involved in the action after coming on as a 61st-minute sub, while his side appeared to have run out of ideas in the final third.
However, with the seconds ticking down, he brilliantly angled his foot to stab Garnacho’s near-post pass across Leno and into the bottom corner. Lift off – and exactly the kind of goal The Red Devils found difficult to score last year.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Bernd Leno (Fulham). Visiting goalkeepers are often busy at Old Trafford, and although that was not necessarily the case for Leno, he still made some superb saves, particularly from point-blank range.
The former Arsenal stopper read the game perfectly, as he dashed off his line on numerous occasions to make crucial blocks with his body.
Without his interventions, Fulham would surely have been 2-0 down at the break, and he was unlucky not to come away with a clean sheet, with the goal he conceded coming very late on.
PLAYER RATINGS
MANCHESTER UNITED: Onana 7; Dalot 6, Maguire 7, Martinez 6, Mazraoui 7; Casemiro 7, Mainoo 7; Diallo 6, Fernandes 7, Mount 6; Rashford. Subs: Garnacho 6, Zirkzee 7, De Ligt n/a, Evans n/a, McTominay n/a
FULHAM: Leno 8; Tete 6, Diop 6, Bassey 7, Robinson 7; Lukic 7, Adama 6; Iwobi 6, Pereira 7, Smith Rowe 6; Muniz 5. Subs: Cairney 7, Jimenez n/a, Stansfield n/a, Wilson n/a, Reed n/a
KEY MOMENTS
13’ TETE SHOT TIPPED OVER. That’s superb from Tete. The defender, making his 100th appearance for Fulham, breaks forward, finds a central position and curls one towards the top corner from 25 yards, with Onana diving high to his left to tip over the bar.
29’ FERNANDES DENIED! Leno makes an awful pass and once more gifts possession to United. Fernandes is soon breaking through on goal, but the ‘keeper makes amends as he is quickly off his line to block the shot.
35’ STUNNING LENO SAVE. United open Fulham up with incredible ease through some quick passing near the edge of the area. Eventually, Casemiro plays a slick pass to Fernandes, but Leno makes a top rank block with his body
53’ LENO TO THE RESCUE. There’s Manchester United’s first attack of the half, and it’s a huge chance for Mason Mount, but once more, Leno is on hand to make a big save, narrowing the angle before blocking with his boot
87’ GOAL! MANCHESTER UNITED 1-0 FULHAM (Joshua Zirkzee). The deadlock is broken at last! Zirkzee has barely been involved since his introduction, but he’s in the right place at the right time to stab Untied in front, brilliantly directing Garnacho’s pass into the far corner
KEY STATS
- Eight of Manchester United’s last 10 opening day Premier League fixtures have ended in victory
- This is the third time in three seasons that Fulham have lost to United, with each winning goal coming from the 87th minute onwards
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