Fulham 1 – 2 Man Utd

November 13, 2022 admin

Manchester United teenager Alejandro Garnacho struck in the third minute of stoppage time to clinch a dramatic 2-1 victory over Fulham in the final Premier League game before the World Cup.

The Cottagers were moments from holding Erik ten Hag’s side to a draw after Dan James (61) had cancelled out Christian Eriksen’s first goal for Manchester United (14) with his first for the Whites against his former side, but substitute Garnacho broke their hearts.

The 18-year-old, fresh from an outstanding cameo in United’s 4-2 win over Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup on Thursday, latched onto Eriksen’s through-ball and clipped a composed finish beyond Bernd Leno for his first Premier League goal.

Manchester United had earlier missed a succession of chances in the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese international absent again having missed their midweek game due to illness, while David de Gea also made several fine stops.

But Garnacho’s remarkable winner enhanced his already burgeoning reputation and ensured Manchester United will head into the six-week domestic break for the World Cup only three points behind fourth-placed Tottenham having played one game less.

How Garnacho stepped up

Ronaldo’s absence dominated the pre-match discussion, but it was that of the suspended Diogo Dalot which most affected United early on, the hosts repeatedly targeting his makeshift replacement Tyrell Malacia, who was playing out of position.

Fulham got in behind him several times, Willian on one occasion teeing up Carlos Vinicius for a low effort which was repelled by De Gea, but the final ball was too often lacking.

The visitors were more clinical, taking the lead when Casemiro robbed Tom Cairney, allowing Eriksen to start the attack and then finish it, charging forward to slide home Bruno Fernandes’ deflected cross-shot having fed Anthony Martial in the build-up.

Fulham continued to probe at the other end, with Willian curling an effort wide and Harry Wilson forcing another save from De Gea, but United should have extended their lead before the break.

Martial was culpable on two occasions, first denied by Leno after latching onto Fernandes’ through-ball, then heading wastefully over the bar from Luke Shaw’s left-wing cross.

There was also a clear opportunity for Eriksen when Fernandes, playing his 100th Premier League game for United, picked him out with a cut-back, only for the Dane to fire just past the post.

United picked up where they left off at the start of the second half, creating chances but failing to convert them, with Anthony Elanga, Marcus Rashford and Martial once again guilty.

Fulham were emboldened by those misses and soon they were testing De Gea again at the other end, with the Spaniard, left out of his country’s World Cup squad this week, saving smartly from Vinicius’ swivel and shot and Tim Ream’s header.

Marco Silva responded by throwing on James and the Wales international, on loan with the Cottagers having left Manchester United for Leeds a year ago, delivered the equaliser almost immediately when he dispatched Cairney’s centre.

There were more Fulham opportunities to come as United struggled to regain a foothold in the game, with the impressive Joao Palhinha forcing a save from De Gea with an acrobatic effort before sending a header over the bar.

But the final word was to be Garnacho’s.

The teenager had looked menacing on United’s left flank having replaced Martial, at one point seeing a penalty appeal waved away after a coming together with Antonee Robinson, and he delivered the match-winning moment in brilliant style, his low finish from Eriksen’s pass clinching three points for United and hinting once again at a tantalisingly bright future.

Redknapp: ‘Rascal’ Garnacho has world at his feet

Jamie Redknapp hailed Garnacho’s match-winning contribution on Sky Sports, saying: “Garnacho has the world at his feet now. There will be a clamour in his home country given the week he’s had. He missed out on the Argentina squad but he’s got plenty more World Cups to look forward to.

“It was one of those ‘wow’ Premier League moments. It was just a fantastic piece of play, the way he picks it up and plays a one-two with Eriksen.

“You hear so many rumours about this young man for a long while, about the talent he possesses and he’s just shown it on the world stage.

“It’s an unbelievable goal after the two assists in midweek. How good must he be feeling right now?

“All the best players have the rascal gene. You don’t want to have a team of Gary Nevilles! The greats have a bit of devilment about them. Look at Wayne Rooney.

“Sometimes, it doesn’t always add up, but they do things differently. You need match-winners and that’s what he is.

“If you go through the greats in history, most in history have a bit of genius and madness alongside it.”