Joshua Zirkzee was Manchester United’s hero on debut (Picture: Getty Images)
Manchester United earned a narrow 1-0 win over Fulham in their Premier League opener on Friday night, with debutant Joshua Zirkzee scoring a late winner.
The summer signing from Bologna came off the bench and immediately became a hero for the Old Trafford faithful as he poked home an Alejandro Garnacho cross.
It looked like it was going to be a frustrating goalless draw for Erik ten Hag to start the season, but the Netherlands international has given the Red Devils a crucial bit of confidence and momentum early in the season.
Fulham were the better side early on, with Manchester United struggling to settle in the first 15-20 minutes and the visitors looking bright.
Kenny Tete doesn’t score many, but he nearly netted in spectacular fashion as he strode forward from defence and aimed a curled effort at the top corner from range, forcing Andre Onana into a good save.
The home side did find their rhythm, though, and over the second half of the first half they became the superior force.
Bruno Fernandes missed two excellent chances, first taking advantage of an error from Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno to have an effort on goal and secondly getting on the end of a wonderful Casemiro through ball. Both times he shot straight at Leno.
Bruno Fernandes will feel he should have scored in the first half (Picture: Getty Images)
Casemiro also had an opportunity in the air before the break, but sent his header into the ground and watched it bounce over the bar.
In a moment few would have expected to see, Harry Maguire was booked for diving as he tried, clumsily, to win a penalty from Emile Smith Rowe.
The Red Devils continued to be the better team after the interval, but continued to be frustrated in their search for a breakthrough.
Mason Mount had a fantastic chance after being played in by Marcus Rashford, but his effort from close range was smothered by Leno. Kobbie Mainoo then fired a shot just wide from outside the penalty box.
Fulham remained a threat themselves, though, and had a great chance to score when Andreas Pereira and Alex Iwobi surged forward on the counter-attack which just Harry Maguire standing in their way en route to Onana’s goal.
Pereira really should have slid in Iwobi with ease but messed up the pass and Maguire blocked it, snuffing out the danger in the process.
Ten Hag rolled the dice by handing Joshua Zirkzee a debut and throwing Alejandro Garnacho into the mix on the hour-mark, but the west Londoners continued to stand firm.
Fernandes saw another effort saved and Tete heroically blocked a Garnacho cross which was destined for Rashford as United began to run out of time.
However, they finally found what they were looking for and it was Zirkzee who broke the deadlock on 87 minutes.
The substitutes combined as Garnacho swung in a cross from the right and Zirkzee managed to improvise a finish, poking the ball into the bottom corner past Leno.
It should have been two for the home side late on as Rashford burst through on goal after a Calvin Bassey error, he could have shot or squared it to Garnacho, he chose the latter option, but it was a poor pass and the Argentinian scuffed his shot wide of the post.
The United fans didn’t mind, though, as the final whistle came shortly after and Ten Hag’s team claimed a big three points.
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