Manchester United held to a draw by Fulham in disappointing season opener Manchester United held to a draw by Fulham in disappointing season opener Season opener analysis: a challenging start for the Red Devils The season began differently than Manchester United fans had hoped. After hiring new manager Rúben Amorim and spending heavily to reinforce the attack with promising names, expectations were high. However, reality struck as the Red Devils were held to a 1-1 draw in their first Premier League match against Fulham. The result alone was disappointing, but the performance revealed weaknesses that still require significant work. The match, held at Craven Cottage on Sunday, 24 August 2025, featured dramatic moments. Manchester United initially took the lead through an own goal but failed to maintain it, compounded by Bruno Fernandes missing a penalty that could have changed the course of the game. Lineups...
Manchester United held to a draw by Fulham in disappointing season opener
Season opener analysis: a challenging start for the Red Devils
The season began differently than Manchester United fans had hoped. After hiring new manager Rúben Amorim and spending heavily to reinforce the attack with promising names, expectations were high. However, reality struck as the Red Devils were held to a 1-1 draw in their first Premier League match against Fulham. The result alone was disappointing, but the performance revealed weaknesses that still require significant work.
The match, held at Craven Cottage on Sunday, 24 August 2025, featured dramatic moments. Manchester United initially took the lead through an own goal but failed to maintain it, compounded by Bruno Fernandes missing a penalty that could have changed the course of the game.
Lineups and Tactical Setup
Manager Rúben Amorim started with an unusual lineup, choosing Mason Mount as a center-forward instead of a traditional striker, while new signing Benjamin Šeško began on the bench. Manchester United's starting lineup featured Alphonse Areola in goal, Casemiro leading the midfield, and the attack composed of Matheus Cunha, Brian Mbuemo, and Mason Mount. Fulham manager Marco Silva opted for a balanced lineup to secure the best result at home.
First Half Analysis: Missed Opportunities and Defensive Chaos
Manchester United started relatively well, showing attacking intent from the first minutes. Matheus Cunha nearly opened the scoring with a powerful shot that struck the left post past Fulham keeper Bernd Leno.
The turning point came in the 30th minute when the referee consulted VAR after noticing a tussle between Calvin Bassey and Mason Mount inside the box. The replay showed Bassey clearly fouling Mount, awarding a penalty for Manchester United. Bruno Fernandes stepped up but fired the shot over the bar, missing a golden opportunity and leaving the fans and players frustrated.
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Alphonse Areola had a shaky performance. Despite saving a dangerous shot from Josh King, he caused panic in the box on three occasions due to poor handling of crosses. Nevertheless, his distribution was better than André Onana’s, as demonstrated in a precise pass to Matheus Cunha, who controlled it immediately and nearly scored.
Second Half Analysis: Substitution Turns the Game and Equalizer
At the start of the second half, Rúben Amorim made an attacking substitution, bringing on Benjamin Šeško for defensive midfielder Casemiro in the 51st minute to increase pressure on Fulham. Seven minutes later, Manchester United unexpectedly took the lead. Young defender Lenny Yaro rose to meet a cross from Brian Mbuemo, and his header deflected off Fulham forward Rodrigo Muniz, deceiving keeper Bernd Leno and finding the net.
Fulham intensified their attacks, and in the 72nd minute, substitute Emil Smith Rowe equalized. Smith Rowe capitalized on a mistake from defender Matthijs de Ligt, who failed to clear Alex Iwobi’s cross, slotting the ball calmly past Areola.
Manchester United nearly snatched the win in the dying minutes, with defender Harry Maguire heading narrowly wide in stoppage time. The match ended 1-1, denying the Red Devils a first win of the season.
Player Ratings and Key Highlights
Lenny Yaro: Bright spot in defense. Despite the goal being an own goal deflection, Yaro showed great composure and defensive ability, contributing to Manchester United's lone goal.
Bruno Fernandes: A day to forget. Missing a penalty and failing to track Emil Smith Rowe’s equalizer made it a frustrating match for the captain.
New Attack Line: Needs more time. Šeško, Cunha, and Mbuemo, costing £200 million, showed potential but lacked cohesion and efficiency in front of goal.
Conclusion: A Start That Needs Course Correction
Manchester United's start was not what fans expected. The draw exposed defensive weaknesses and finishing inefficiency. However, being only the first match of the season, there is time for manager Rúben Amorim to correct the course, refine the lineup, and guide the team back to the path of victories.
تعليقات
إرسال تعليق