Manchester United 1-0 Fulham: Zirkzee the hero as United win late

Manchester United started the 2024/25 season with a 1-0 win against Fulham in the opening match of the new Premier League season at Old Trafford.

A late winner from debutant Joshua Zirkzee was the all-important difference in a close-knit affair, sending the Red Devils to the top of the table after the first match of the campaign.

As it happened

The Old Trafford crowd were eager to see United get off to a solid start to the 2024/25 season. Ten Hag’s side lost three of their first six home fixtures last season, finding most of their joy on the road; welcoming Fulham on the opening day was a good chance to address their home form early on in the year.

There were plenty of summer signings on display for both sides, with Noussair Mazraoui starting on the right of Manchester United’s defence. Fellow newcomers Matthijs de Ligt and Joshua Zirkzee started life in the Premier League from the bench.

As for the visitors, former Arsenal star Emile Smith Rowe found himself in the starting lineup after an impressive pre-season campaign for Fulham. Left-back Jorge Cuenca, who joined the club from Villareal, was on the bench.

Marco Silva’s Cottagers started the match on the front foot, full of energy and purpose. This fixture last season provided a shock result as a last-minute strike from Alex Iwobi sealed a huge three points for Fulham – the visitors searched for more of the same this time around.

Kenny Tete was just inches away from an early goal-of-the-season contender with an ambitious long-range effort looking to catch André Onana sleeping early into the evening, but the Cameroon international made a good stop to prevent an opener.

After a slow opening period, Erik ten Hag’s men grew into the game and were soon gifted a huge opportunity. Bernd Leno lost possession just outside the Fulham box, with his stray pass falling to the feet of Casemiro. The midfielder played in Bruno Fernandes, but United’s skipper couldn’t find the back of the net.

He was given a second bite of the cherry just minutes later, finding himself on the end of an excellent Manchester United move. Casemiro was the catalyst once again, threading an inch-perfect ball to the feet of Fernandes who looked certain to score. The score at half-time, however, remained 0-0.

As the second half began, the Manchester United fans were eager to see more from their side. The Red Devils lost three of their first six home fixtures last season, finding most of their joy on the road

The first big chance of the second half fell to the feet of youngster Kobbie Mainoo, who had acres of space to get a shot away on the edge of the box, but the 19-year-old’s effort trickled past the post.

It wasn’t long before Erik ten Hag looked towards his bench, with a double change coming in the 60th minute. Joshua Zirkzee was handed his Manchester United debut, whilst Community Shield goalscorer Alejandro Garnacho was also introduced.

Marco Silva followed suit, replacing Emile Smith Rowe with Tom Cairney in an attempt to inject some life into Fulham. Just minutes after the change, the visitors found themselves in a two-on-one situation against Harry Maguire.

Andreas Pereira charged at the England international before looking to play Alex Iwobi in on goal, but a moment of hesitation from the Brazilian allowed Maguire to make a crucial interception.

Another fast break fell to the Cottagers at the feet of Cairney and then Pereira, whose low cross was guided wide of the post by Lisandro Martínez. Fulham looked hungry in the closing stages as Silva introduced Raúl Jiménez and Harry Wilson to the mix.

A flurry of Ten Hag substitutions saw another new signing handed his debut as Matthijs de Ligt replaced a limping Maguire. Johnny Evans took the place of an impressive Mazraoui, whilst Scott McTominay was brought on for Kobbie Mainoo in a bid to find an all-important winning goal.

In the 87th minute of the match, the deadlock was broken and Manchester United scored what turned out to be the winning goal. Joshua Zirkzee, who joined the club for £36.5m from Bologna in the summer, enjoyed the perfect start in United colours, getting on the end of Garnacho’s cross to send the Stretford End into jubilation.

It was almost two for United in the dying stages of the match, but Garnacho’s miskick ensured the scoreline remained 1-0 at the referee’s final whistle.

It wasn’t perfect for Manchester United, but Erik ten Hag’s side just about did enough in the end to get off to a winning start in the 2024/25 season.

The lineups

MUN: Onana; Mazraoui, Maguire, Martínez, Dalot; Casemiro, Mainoo; Diallo, Mount, Rashford; Fernandes

FUL: Leno; Tete, Diop, Bassey, Robinson; Lukić, Pereira; Traoré, Smith Rowe, Iwobi; Muniz