Manchester United 1-0 Fulham: Zirkzee’s Late Strike Secures Opening Day Victory

In a tense and closely-fought encounter at Old Trafford, Manchester United kicked off their 2024/25 Premier League campaign with a hard-earned 1-0 victory over Fulham. The match, which seemed destined for a goalless draw, was decided by a late strike from debutant Joshua Zirkzee, who came off the bench to secure all three points for Erik ten Hag’s side.

Key Moments

• 13′: Kenny Tete’s long-range effort forces a fine save from Andre Onana
• 29′: Bruno Fernandes denied by Bernd Leno after a Fulham defensive error
• 35′: Leno makes a stunning save to deny Fernandes again
• 53′: Mason Mount’s close-range effort saved by Leno
• 87′: GOAL! Joshua Zirkzee scores on his debut to give United the win

Match Review

The opening day of the Premier League season saw Manchester United host Fulham at Old Trafford, with both teams eager to start their campaigns on a positive note. Erik ten Hag’s side, looking to improve on last season’s performance, fielded a mix of established stars and new signings, while Marco Silva’s Fulham aimed to prove they could compete without departed midfielder João Palhinha.

From the outset, it was clear that this would be a closely contested affair. United, as expected, dominated possession in the early stages, but struggled to break down a well-organized Fulham defense. The visitors, for their part, looked dangerous on the counter-attack, with Adama Traore’s pace causing problems for the United backline.

The first real chance of the game fell to Fulham in the 13th minute, when Kenny Tete unleashed a powerful long-range effort that forced Andre Onana into a spectacular save. This seemed to wake United up, and they began to create chances of their own. Bruno Fernandes was denied twice in quick succession by Bernd Leno, first after a Fulham defensive error, and then following a slick United move.

As the first half wore on, United continued to press for the opener, but Fulham’s defense held firm. Leno, in particular, was in inspired form, making a series of crucial saves to keep the scores level. At the other end, Fulham looked dangerous on the break, with Emile Smith Rowe and Andreas Pereira showing flashes of creativity.

The second half began in much the same vein as the first, with United dominating possession but struggling to find a way through. Ten Hag made changes just after the hour mark, introducing Alejandro Garnacho and Joshua Zirkzee in an attempt to inject some fresh energy into his side’s attack.

As the game entered its final stages, it seemed increasingly likely that the points would be shared. However, with just three minutes of normal time remaining, United finally found the breakthrough. Zirkzee, who had been involved in the build-up, found himself in the right place at the right time to divert Garnacho’s cross past Leno and into the net.

The goal sparked wild celebrations among the Old Trafford faithful, who had begun to fear another frustrating opening day result. Fulham pushed for an equalizer in the dying minutes, but United held firm to secure a hard-fought victory.

While the performance may not have been entirely convincing, Ten Hag will be delighted to start the season with three points. For Fulham, there were plenty of positives to take from the game, despite the late heartbreak.

Player Ratings

Manchester United

Andre Onana (7): Made a crucial save from Tete’s long-range effort and commanded his area well throughout.

Diogo Dalot (6): Struggled at times against Traore’s pace but improved as the game went on.

Harry Maguire (7): Solid in the air and made some important clearances.

Lisandro Martinez (7): Combative as ever, made a crucial block to deny Traore a tap-in.

Noussair Mazraoui (7): Impressive debut, offering an attacking outlet on the right and defending solidly.

Casemiro (6): Not at his dominant best but kept things ticking over in midfield.

Kobbie Mainoo (7): Energetic performance, consistently winning the ball high up the pitch.

Amad Diallo (7): Bright and inventive, looked a threat until his substitution.

Mason Mount (6): Showed flashes of quality but missed a good chance early in the second half.

Marcus Rashford (6): Made some dangerous runs but lacked end product.

Bruno Fernandes (6): Unlucky not to score in the first half, faded as the game went on.

Substitutes:

Alejandro Garnacho (6): Provided the assist for the winner but missed a golden opportunity late on.

Joshua Zirkzee (8): Dream debut, scoring the winning goal with a clever finish.

Jonny Evans (N/A): Not on long enough to rate.

Matthijs de Ligt (N/A): Made his presence felt in his brief cameo.

Scott McTominay (N/A): Late substitute to shore up the midfield.

Fulham

Bernd Leno (8): Outstanding performance, made several crucial saves to keep Fulham in the game.

Kenny Tete (7): Solid defensively and almost scored with a long-range effort.

Issa Diop (7): Commanding presence at the back, dealt well with United’s attacks.

Calvin Bassey (6): Generally solid but a late error almost gifted United a second goal.

Antonee Robinson (7): Tireless performance, offering an attacking outlet while defending well.

Sasa Lukic (6): Worked hard in midfield but struggled to impose himself on the game.

Andreas Pereira (7): Showed flashes of creativity against his former club.

Adama Traore (7): Constant threat with his pace, gave United’s defense problems throughout.

Emile Smith Rowe (6): Showed glimpses of quality but faded as the game went on.

Alex Iwobi (6): Industrious performance but lacked end product.

Rodrigo Muniz (5): Isolated for long periods, struggled to make an impact.

Substitutes:

Tom Cairney (6): Added some composure to Fulham’s midfield after coming on.

Harry Wilson (N/A): Not on long enough to make an impact.

Raul Jimenez (N/A): Late substitute, no time to influence the game.

Jay Stansfield (N/A): Introduced too late to affect the outcome.

Harrison Reed (N/A): Brief appearance in stoppage time.

FAQs

Q: How did Manchester United’s new signings perform?
A: Noussair Mazraoui had an impressive debut at right-back, while Joshua Zirkzee made an immediate impact by scoring the winning goal off the bench. Matthijs de Ligt also made a brief appearance late in the game.

Q: Was the result a fair reflection of the game?
A: While United had more possession and created more clear-cut chances, Fulham put in a resolute defensive performance and could feel somewhat unlucky to leave empty-handed.

Q: How did Fulham cope without João Palhinha?
A: Fulham’s midfield worked hard but lacked the defensive solidity that Palhinha provided last season. However, the team as a whole defended well for most of the game.

Q: What does this result mean for both teams’ seasons?
A: It’s a positive start for Manchester United, but there’s clearly room for improvement. For Fulham, despite the defeat, there were encouraging signs that they can be competitive this season.

Q: Who was the standout player of the match?
A: Bernd Leno was exceptional for Fulham, making several crucial saves. For United, Joshua Zirkzee’s impact off the bench was decisive.

Premier League Table

Position	Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	GF	GA	GD	Points
1	Manchester United	1	1	0	0	1	0	1	3
2	Arsenal	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	Aston Villa	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	Bournemouth	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
5	Brentford	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
…	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	…
20	Fulham	1	0	0	1	0	1	-1	0

Upcoming Fixtures

Manchester United

• vs Tottenham Hotspur (A)
• vs Nottingham Forest (H)
• vs Arsenal (A)

Fulham

• vs Brentford (H)
• vs Arsenal (A)
• vs Luton Town (H)

In conclusion, Manchester United will be relieved to start their campaign with a win, but Erik ten Hag will know there’s work to be done if they’re to challenge for the title. Fulham, despite the defeat, showed enough to suggest they can be competitive this season, but Marco Silva will be keen to see his side turn promising performances into points in the coming weeks.

Citations:
[1] https://www.eurosport.com/football/premier-league/2024-2025/man-utd-v-fulham-premier-league-live_sto10298787/story.shtml
[2] https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/match-report-for-man-utd-v-fulham-in-the-premier-league-16-august-2024
[3] https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/manchester-united-fulham-live-stream-score-result-b2596364.html
[4] https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/man-utd-player-ratings-vs-fulham-zirkzee-mount-premier-league-2024-b1177002.html
[5] https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/liveblog/2024/8/16/live-manchester-united-vs-fulham-english-premier-league
[6] https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/teams/nottingham-forest
[7] https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/man-utd-player-ratings-vs-fulham-joshua-zirkzee-casemiro/bltca0508304b5cd0f9
[8] https://www.squawka.com/en/news/man-utd-fulham-premier-league-24-25-player-ratings/