Man Utd 1-0 Fulham

Joshua Zirkzee’s 87th minute goal denied Fulham a point in the first game of the 2024/25 Premier League season at Old Trafford on Friday night.

The Whites started terrifically and almost went in front through Kenny Tete’s long ranger, though the home side ended the first half the stronger.

Fulham continued to create chances after the break, as did United, but for a long time a goalless draw looked the most likely outcome.

And so it was heartbreak when Zirkzee marked his debut with the night’s pivotal moment, flicking home a deft finish in the box.

Marco Silva opted for the same XI that started the win over Hoffenheim in our final pre-season friendly, meaning a competitive debut in midfield for Emile Smith Rowe.

A powerful Adama Traoré run created the first half chance in the seventh minute, when he tried to cut back to Alex Iwobi having beaten three red shirts down the right, but Noussair Mazraoui made a vital tackle before the Nigerian could pull the trigger.

Rodrigo Muniz then nutmegged Casemiro and slipped in Adama, who fired over on the angle.

After Amad Diallo tried to win a penalty with a speculative fall to the floor, the Whites countered rapidly and almost took the lead in stunning fashion, Andre Onana needing all of his agility to tip over Tete’s dipping strike from 20-plus yards.

Casemiro had a similar chance at the other end, but his effort went some way over the bar.

Their next opening was much hairier, though, when a misplaced Bernd Leno pass allowed Casemiro to slip Bruno Fernandes in, but Leno more than made up for his effort with a terrific save.

The two captains were pitted against one another again moments later, when a precise Casemiro ball split our defence, but Leno was out quickly to smother Fernandes’ first time effort.

United had grown into the evening, with Casemiro at the heart of a lot of their best work, though the Brazil international should have done better when heading Amad’s corner down into the ground and over.

The second half started with Iwobi winning a corner, which Andreas planted on his head at the near post, but unfortunately he got under the ball and nodded over.

Leno had been imperious between the sticks and was at it again in the 54th minute, making himself huge to deny Mason Mount’s close range flick.

Kobbie Mainoo was next to have a crack, but he dragged his low strike from 20 yards wide.

There was some trademark Muniz on show just after the hour mark when he controlled the ball on his chest with his back to goal before executing an overhead kick. It took a big deflection off Mainoo and was about to drop under the crossbar, until Onana tipped over.

Wonderful hold up play from Muniz, while being fouled, then created a two-on-one situation for Fulham with Andreas breaking clear, but his attempted pass through to Iwobi was cut out by last defender Harry Maguire.

Fulham had had some joy on the counter attack and were dangerous again when breaking with speed on 74 minutes, Adama and substitute Tom Cairney combining to free Andreas on the left, whose cross was toed round the post by Lisandro Martinez.

United had a quick break of their own as we approached the final 10, but Fernandes’ shot at the end of it was lacking as he curled directly into the palms of Leno.

The game looked to be heading for a draw, until Zirkzee got a toe onto fellow substitute Alejandro Garnacho’s cross to divert the ball away from Leno and inside the far post.

Garnacho should have wrapped things up in the final minute of stoppage time but inexplicably shot yards wide when he had an open goal after being teed up by Marcus Rashford.

Marco Silva had said pre-match that this fixture is always one of fine margins, and so it proved once again, with United snatching victory at the death.