Fulham and Manchester United played out a 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage, with Emile Smith Rowe’s late goal canceling out an own goal from Rodrigo Muniz. Manchester United started strongly, with Matheus Cunha hitting the post, but Bruno Fernandes missed a penalty. Muniz’s own goal gave United the lead, but Smith Rowe’s quick response secured a point for Fulham. The result leaves both teams without a win in their first two Premier League games.
Emile Smith Rowe's late goal rescued a 1-1 draw for Fulham against Manchester United at Craven Cottage, leaving both teams searching for their first win of the Premier League season. The match, filled with near misses and dramatic moments, highlighted the ongoing struggles for Erik ten Hag's Manchester United and the resilience of Marco Silva's Fulham side.
The game began with Manchester United on the front foot, eager to assert their dominance. Matheus Cunha, a lively presence in the United attack, came close to opening the scoring within the first two minutes. His ambitious effort from 25 yards sailed just over the bar, followed by a well-struck shot that cannoned off the post, signaling United's early intent. Fulham's goalkeeper, Bernd Leno, was called into action early, producing a stunning one-on-one save to deny Cunha in the 14th minute, keeping the score level.
As the first half progressed, Manchester United continued to press, creating several opportunities. The pivotal moment arrived late in the half when Chris Kavanagh, after consulting VAR, awarded a penalty to United. The review determined that Calvin Bassey had fouled Mason Mount inside the penalty area, presenting Bruno Fernandes with a golden chance to break the deadlock. However, in a moment of unexpected misfortune, Fernandes sent his penalty high over the crossbar, leaving United frustrated and the score still 0-0 at halftime.
The second half saw a shift in momentum as Fulham began to assert themselves more effectively. Manchester United's attacking threat diminished somewhat, but they managed to find a breakthrough in the 58th minute in somewhat fortuitous circumstances. A header from Leny Yoro, intended for goal, deflected off Fulham's Rodrigo Muniz and into the net, giving United a 1-0 lead. The goal, credited as an own goal to Muniz, put United ahead against the run of play.
Fulham, however, responded swiftly and decisively. Just as they had done in their previous match against Brighton, a substitute made a significant impact. Emile Smith Rowe, moments after entering the game, latched onto a precise cross from Alex Iwobi and slotted the ball home, leveling the score at 1-1. Smith Rowe's goal, coming just 94 seconds after his introduction, injected new energy into Fulham and silenced the United supporters.
In the closing stages of the match, both teams pushed for a winning goal. Harry Maguire came close for United, while Joachim Andersen threatened for Fulham, but neither side could find the decisive breakthrough. The match ended in a 1-1 draw, a result that reflected the competitive nature of the contest.
The draw leaves Manchester United in 16th place in the Premier League table with just one point from their first two games, a disappointing start to the season for a team with high expectations. Fulham, meanwhile, sit in 13th place with two points, having drawn both of their opening matches. While not a victory, the draw against Manchester United demonstrates their ability to compete with the league's top teams.
6 – Since the start of April, Manchester United have won fewer points than all other ever present Premier League clubs (6) and Leicester City, who now play in the Championship, have more Premier League points than they have in that time (8). Concerning. pic.twitter.com/C1bJ4zGMhL
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 24, 2025
Fulham's substitutes have been instrumental in their early-season performances. In their previous match, Muniz scored as a substitute, and this time, Smith Rowe delivered the goods. Smith Rowe’s goal was the sixth-earliest by a substitute since the start of last season, highlighting the impact Fulham's bench players are having. Fernandes’ missed penalty was his fifth in the Premier League, a statistic that underscores his recent struggles from the spot.
Manchester United's failure to win their first two games marks only the second time in the last 11 years that they have started a Premier League season in such a manner. While they finished third in the 2022-23 season after a similar start, the pressure is mounting on Ten Hag to turn things around quickly.