Match report as debutant Joshua Zirkzee nets dream winner

Joshua Kirkzee came off the bench to prod home a last-gasp debut goal to give Man United three points against Fulham.

The 23-year-old summer signing from Bologna was left on the bench with Erik Ten Hag opting for a line-up without a recognised striker.

However he brought on his countryman on the hour and Kirkzee made the telling contribution when he ran into the area to poke home a volley from Alejandro Garnacho’s cross from the right three minutes from time.

Fulham keeper Bernd Leno twice denied Bruno Fernandes and also thwarted Mason Mount while Andre Onana foiled Kenny Tete and Rogrigo Muniz at the other end as Fulham were on top for long spells at Old Trafford as United struggled to find a cutting edge in the final third.

Friday night delight! ❤️‍🔥🙌#MUFC || #MUNFUL pic.twitter.com/EXBEXGjMJA

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 16, 2024

No recognised striker

Ten Hag handed a debut to Noussair Mazraoui but left Matthijs de Ligt and Zirkzee on the bench, while Marco Silva gave Emile Smith Rowe his first Cottagers start in an XI which included seven of the team which won 2-1 at Old Trafford in January

Just three days after signing Mazraoui had to produce a vital sliding intervention in the opening minutes to prevent Alex Iwobe latching onto a pullback after Adama Traore had sped down the right and into the box, beating Lisandro Martinez.

Traore lashed over the bar before Kenny Tete’s 25-yard curler drew a flying save from his former Ajax teammate Onana.

Mount, making just his second start for United since last October, picked up a booking inside 20 minutes for a lunge on Smith Rowe.

Fernandes fired a first-time effort from a near-impossible angle into the side-netting while another former Ajax player, Calvin Bassey, was booked on 25 minutes for a sliding challenge on Mount.

Casemiro fired well over Leno’s bar shortly before the German keeper casually gave the ball away on the edge of his own box but recovered to block Fernandes’ sliced low effort with his legs just before the half-hour, when the Portuguese really should have scored.

Fernandes had another chance five minutes later when Casemiro expertly slotted him clean through near the penalty spot but his first-time effort was blocked by Leno’s legs once again, while Casemiro’s downward header from a far-post corner drifted wide and he ballooned another 20-yard volley over the bar shortly afterwards.

Another huge save from Bernd! 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/gmXDwPYw2m

— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) August 16, 2024

Before the break Harry Maguire was cautioned by referee Robert Jones for diving to try and win a penalty with Smith Rowe dangling a leg close by.

Fulham the brighter

After the turnaround Iwobi got too much on a near-post header from a corner as Fulham began the brighter and Tete saw another glancing header from a set piece hacked away by Diogo Dalot soon after.

Mount’s near-post effort was denied by the boot of Leno after a lightning United counter attack and Kobbie Mainoo dragged a low 20-yard effort past the upright on 55 minutes.

Zirkzee was introduced just before the hour to the delight of the home faithful, with Garnacho also coming on in place of Mount and Amad, but Rodrigo Muniz’s acrobatic volley cannoned off Mainoo and needed to be tipped over the bar by Onana soon after.

Smith Rowe was withdrawn by Fulham on 64 minutes, with Tom Cairney replacing him, but Andreas Pereira somehow failed to play Iwobi clean through when the visitors were two-on-one on the counterattack.

Dalot’s inviting cross was well defended by Antonee Robinson before Pereira was booked for waving an imaginary yellow card and Cairney received another real one for a challenge on Garnacho moments later.

Martinez produced a last-ditch clearance in his own goalmouth from Pereira’s low cross to prevent Fulham taking the lead on the break on 74 minutes and the visitors won a series of corners, but couldn’t take advantage.

Muniz was crowded out by Maguire as the Cottagers tried to find the breakthrough, his final action before being replaced by Raul Jimenez with less than 15 minutes remaining.

Fernandes curled straight at Leno from the edge of the box when he might have played in Zirkzee on the left while de Ligt and Jonny Evans were brought on with 10 minutes to go with Maguire and Mazzraoui making way in the closing stages.

In a stretched finale Tete’s outstretched boot denied Marcus Rashford a far-post tap-in from Garnacho’s pullback but the crucial moment arrived on 87 minutes when Zirkzee spread the ball wide to the right before continuing his run into the area and prodding home a first-time volley which sent the ball past Leno and into the bottom corner to spark wild celebrations.

Garnacho missed an open goal in time added on after Rashford had squared to him after last man Bassey had missed his kick, but to the relief of Ten Hag United held on to make a winning start to the season.

Late defeat at Old Trafford.#MUNFUL pic.twitter.com/ToeIz8aPjW

— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) August 16, 2024