Manchester United claimed their first win of the 2025–26 Premier League season with a narrow 1-0 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage. The result came after a competitive battle, decided by an own goal in the second half.
Match Summary
United pushed hard in the second half and finally broke the deadlock in the 58th minute. Defender Leny Yoro’s header took a deflection off Fulham striker Rodrigo Muniz and ended up in the net. Although it wasn’t a clean goal by United, it gave them the lead they needed.
Earlier in the match, United had a chance to go ahead. VAR awarded a penalty, and captain Bruno Fernandes stepped up to take it. However, he sent the ball flying over the bar. A moment before the kick, the referee bumped into Fernandes, which may have disrupted his focus. Still, fans expected more from the experienced midfielder.
Tactical Choices
Manchester United made some bold changes. Altay Bayindir started in goal, replacing the usual first-choice keeper, André Onana. The move worked well, as Bayindir delivered a calm and solid performance.
New signings like Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Šeško helped push the attack forward. Though United didn’t score through open play, they looked more dangerous than in their previous match.
Fulham’s manager, Ruben Amorim, set up his team with an unusual formation that included two left-backs and a false nine. The strategy helped Fulham control possession in the first half, but they struggled to create clear chances.
Key Players
- Leny Yoro (Manchester United): Played a key role in the winning goal and remained strong at the back.
- Altay Bayindir (Manchester United): Made a few important saves and showed confidence between the posts.
- Alex Iwobi & Ryan Sessegnon (Fulham): Tried to push forward with pace but couldn’t break United’s defense.
What This Means
This win gives Manchester United some relief after a poor start to the season. They now have three points on the board and some momentum heading into their next game.
Fulham, meanwhile, need to improve their finishing. Despite having good control in parts of the match, they couldn’t test the keeper often enough.
