Lisandro Martinez's fortuitous effort earned Manchester United a 1-0 victory at Fulham in a drab Premier League encounter at Craven Cottage.
2024/2025 Premier League
0-1
Match Report
A game lacking in quality was settled by a huge slice of fortune when Martinez's strike from 30 yards deflected off Sasa Lukic and looped over Bernd Leno in the Fulham goal.
It represented the only shot on target for Ruben Amorim's men, who otherwise had failed to really hurt their opponents, but Amad Diallo had second ruled out late on, with the goal awarded on-pitch but overturned after a VAR review for offside.
Fulham, in fairness, had created little themselves, though, until Joachim Andersen saw a thumping header stunningly cleared off the line by substitute Toby Collyer in the closing stages.
United had just one effort in a forgettable first half where a couple of Alex Iwobi stingers were all Fulham had to show for their endeavours.
Bruno Fernandes stuck a low free-kick into the side-netting as the second half followed a similar pattern until Martinez tried his luck from range and saw his attempt cruelly loop over Leno via Lukic.
Collyer brilliantly headed Andersen's flicked header from Andrea Pereira's corner off the line as Fulham thought they had a late equaliser.
United then thought they had doubled the lead through Diallo deep into injury time but his low drive into the bottom-right corner was ruled out for offside.
It's three points on the road for the Reds #MUFC || #FULMUN
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 26, 2025
Data Debrief: Martinez loves his travel comforts for Red Devils
Martinez was an unlikely hero for United at Craven Cottage with what was just his third Premier League goal, all of which have come away from Old Trafford.
The Red Devils have now scored 68 per cent of their Premier League goals this season in the second half, with only Leicester City having a higher ratio (72 per cent).
It might not have been the best of season's for United, but they are one of four teams alongside Arsenal, Liverpool and Newcastle United to not suffer defeat when going 1-0 up in the Premier League this season.
Moreover, they have won each of their last eight Premier League away games against Fulham. Indeed, this win was just their third across their last 20 league matches in London (D5 L12), with all three victories in this period coming at Craven Cottage (also 2-1 in November 2022 & 1-0 in November 2023).
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
0' Highlight from Fulham vs Man Utd
6' Iwobi drives at the Man United defence and shoots, but Onana makes a save
12' Jimenez tries to break through but Matthijs de Ligt is there to clear up
16' Smith Rowe is bearing down on goal, but he's unable to get in under control
19' CLOSE! Iwobi cuts in and takes on the shot but it straight at Onana
20' Highlight from Fulham vs Man Utd
25' Ugarte flies in really late on Harry Wilson but the ref doesn't show yellow card
38' Jimenez is able to control the balll but slices over the bar from a tight angle
43' Match Event for Fulham vs Man Utd
53' Harry Wilson can't continue and he's replaced by Adama Traore
56' Under the wall from Bruno's free-kick but it finds the side-netting
58' Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee replace Matthijs de Ligt and Rasmus Hojlund
61' Lisandro Martinez is down after a clash with Adama Traore
68' Highlight from Fulham vs Man Utd
73' Traore skips between two Man Utd players and taken out by Ugarte who sees yellow
76' Adama Traore, who cuts inside, lashes an effort over the bar
78' Martinez's huge deflected effort breaks the deadlock! Fulham 0-1 Man Utd
88' A corner flicked at the near post by Andersen but Collyer heads away
93' Muniz slashes over the bar from seven yards out
95' Diallo scores but it's disallowed for OFFSIDE!
Line-ups
Fulham XI: Leno, Jimenez, Andersen, Iwobi, Lukic, Castagne, Harry Wilson, Berge, Antonee Robinson, Smith Rowe, Calvin Bassey
Subs: Tom Cairney, Traore, Pereira, Harrison Reed, Diop, Steven Benda, Jorge Cuenca, Rodrigo Muniz, Josh King
Man Utd XI: Maguire, Bruno Fernandes, Onana, Mazraoui, De Ligt, Dalot, Ugarte, Lisandro Martinez, Garnacho, Amad Diallo Traore, Højlund
Subs: Eriksen, Casemiro, Lindelof, Altay Bayındır, Malacia, Zirkzee, Collyer, Mainoo, Yoro