In a thrilling start to the 2024/25 Premier League season, Manchester United secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Fulham at Old Trafford. Joshua Zirkzee, making his debut for the Red Devils, scored the decisive goal just two minutes from the end, giving United the perfect start to their campaign. The match was a showcase of both teams’ defensive resilience and attacking intent, making it an exciting contest for fans.
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First Half – Creating Chances
The match kicked off with an electrifying pace, with Marcus Rashford threatening to score within the first 30 seconds, though he was quickly flagged offside. Fulham responded with a swift counter-attack led by Adama Traoré, whose pace down the right wing created a dangerous moment in United’s box. However, Noussair Mazraoui, also making his debut, made a crucial interception to deny Alex Iwobi a clear shot at goal.
Manchester United soon took control, with Bruno Fernandes coming close twice, only to be denied by Fulham’s goalkeeper Bernd Leno. The Cottagers, however, remained dangerous on the break, with Kenny Tete forcing Andre Onana into a spectacular save to keep the score level.
The first half was characterized by solid defensive performances from both teams, with Lisandro Martinez standing out for United, thwarting several Fulham attacks with his physical presence and timely tackles.
Second Half – The Perfect Introduction
The second half saw a more aggressive Fulham side, who pushed for an early breakthrough with a series of corners. United weathered the initial storm and began to impose themselves, with Mason Mount seeing a close-range effort brilliantly saved by Leno.
As the game progressed, manager Erik ten Hag introduced fresh legs, bringing on Alejandro Garnacho and Joshua Zirkzee in the 60th minute. The substitutions proved to be a masterstroke as Garnacho’s pace and creativity down the wing started to cause problems for Fulham’s defense.
Fulham had their chances too, with Rodrigo Muniz’s acrobatic overhead kick forcing Onana into another fine save. As the game looked to be heading for a goalless draw, Garnacho delivered a perfect cross into the box, where Zirkzee was waiting to poke the ball past Leno, sending Old Trafford into raptures.
Match Details
- Manchester United: Onana; Mazraoui (De Ligt 81’), Maguire (Evans 81’), Martinez, Dalot; Casemiro, Mainoo (McTominay 84’); Amad (Garnacho 60’), Mount (Zirkzee 60’), Rashford; Fernandes.
- Substitutes: Bayindir, Collyer, Eriksen, Antony.
- Booked: Mount, Maguire.
- Goals: Zirkzee 87’.
- Fulham: Leno; Tete, Diop, Bassey, Robinson; Lukic (Stansfield 90+1’), Pereira (Reed 90+1’); Traore (Wilson 78’), Smith Rowe (Cairney 64’), Iwobi; Muniz (Jimenez 78’).
- Substitutes: Benda, Castagne, Cuenca, King.
- Booked: Bassey, Pereira, Cairney.
Statistics
- Possession: Manchester United 55% – 45% Fulham
- Shots: Manchester United 14 – 10 Fulham
- Shots on Target: Manchester United 5 – 2 Fulham
- Corners: Manchester United 7 – 8 Fulham
- Fouls: Manchester United 12 – 10 Fulham
- Cards: Manchester United 2 – 3 Fulham
English Premier League Points Table
Check the below mentioned for English Premier League points table from the below mentioned table.
| English Premier League Points Table 2024-2025 | GP | W | D | L | F | A | GD | P |
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Arsenal | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Liverpool | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Aston Villa | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Manchester United | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Newcastle United | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| AFC Bournemouth | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Nottingham Forest | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Brentford | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chelsea | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Crystal Palace | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Leicester City | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Manchester City | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| West Ham United | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
| Fulham | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| Southampton | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| Ipswich Town | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
| Everton | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
FAQs
How did Manchester United win against Fulham?
Manchester United secured a 1-0 win against Fulham with a late goal from debutant Joshua Zirkzee in the 87th minute.
Who scored the winning goal for Manchester United?
Joshua Zirkzee scored the winning goal for Manchester United in the 87th minute, making it his debut goal for the club.
What was the possession percentage in the Manchester United vs Fulham match?
Manchester United had 55% possession, while Fulham had 45% possession during the match.
Who were the key players in the match?
Key players included Joshua Zirkzee for his match-winning goal, Andre Onana for his crucial saves, and Bernd Leno for his excellent goalkeeping throughout the match.
Manchester United’s narrow victory over Fulham, secured by a late goal from Joshua Zirkzee, marks a promising start to their Premier League season. The debutant’s impact, along with strong performances from both new and established players, suggests that United could be serious contenders this season. Fulham, despite the loss, showed resilience and will look to build on this performance in their upcoming fixtures.
