Fulham 1-2 Manchester United: Alejandro Garnacho scores dramatic injury-time winner

Manchester United snatched a dramatic 93rd-minute winner through substitute Alejandro Garnacho as they beat Fulham in a thrilling final Premier League match before the Qatar World Cup.

In a pulsating second half at Craven Cottage, Fulham looked to have earned a point before the 18-year-old Argentine raced through and arrowed a shot into the bottom corner past Bernd Leno.

Fulham's Dan James had earlier came off the bench to grab an equaliser from Tom Cairney's low cross to give the hosts what looked to be a well-deserved point after David de Gea had made a number of fine saves.

Christian Eriksen, who suffered a cardiac arrest during a Euro 2020 match for Denmark against Finland in June 2021, had put the visitors ahead in the first half with his first United goal, sliding in to finish at the back post from a low cross from Bruno Fernandes.

But Garnacho's winner with practically the last kick of the match gave United the three points.

The Premier League now takes a six-week break because of the Qatar World Cup, which begins on 20 November, with no domestic top-flight matches until 26 December.

The win leaves United fifth, 11 points behind leaders Arsenal and three points behind fourth-placed Tottenham with a game in hand on Antonio Conte's side.

Fulham have either been promoted to or relegated from the Premier League in each of the previous five seasons, but are well placed to end that up-and-down run as they sit ninth, having already matched the five wins they gained in their previous top-flight campaign in 2020-21.

De Gea saves keep United in it before Garnacho takes the headlines

The result was harsh on Fulham, who had looked to be getting another excellent result at home after they had won three times at Craven Cottage and drawn 2-2 with Liverpool in the opening match of the season.

But Garnacho, who has represented both Spain and Argentina at younger age groups, scored his first Premier League goal to enhance his rapidly blossoming reputation.

He only made his United debut in April, scored his first goal for the club against Real Sociedad in the Europa League 10 days ago and produced an impressive late cameo, providing two assists, in United's 4-2 Carabao Cup win over Aston Villa on Thursday.

But United needed a superb performance from De Gea - overlooked for the Spain World Cup squad - to keep Fulham from taking the lead as the hosts played superbly in the second half after James, who spent two years with United, equalised.

United have 14 players that have been named in squads for Qatar, but Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo was again not involved because of illness, which also kept him out of Thursday's match.

Fulham were without top goalscorer Aleksandar Mitrovic, who has scored nine goals in 12 Premier League games this season, as his foot injury again ruled him out, with the Serbia striker hoping to be fit for his country's World Cup opener against Brazil on 24 November.

There will now be no top-flight football until 26 December but this match was a dramatic, thrilling way for the first half of a Premier League season like no other to come to a halt.

Player of the match

GarnachoAlejandro Garnacho

Fulham

Squad number21Player nameJames

Squad number26Player nameJoão Palhinha

Squad number18Player nameAndreas Pereira

Squad number20Player nameWillian

Squad number8Player nameWilson

Squad number17Player nameLeno

Squad number10Player nameCairney

Squad number14Player nameDe Cordova-Reid

Squad number33Player nameRobinson

Squad number30Player nameCarlos Vinícius

Squad number31Player nameDiop

Squad number13Player nameReam

Squad number25Player nameOnomah

Line-ups

Fulham

Formation 4-2-3-1

17Leno

14De Cordova-Reid31Diop13Ream33Robinson

26João Palhinha10Cairney

8Wilson18Pereira20Willian

30Alves Morais

Substitutes

Man Utd

Formation 4-2-3-1

1de Gea

12Malacia2Lindelöf6Martínez23Shaw

18Casemiro14Eriksen

36Elanga8Bruno Fernandes10Rashford

9Martial

Substitutes

Live Text

Match ends, Fulham 1, Manchester United 2.

Second Half ends, Fulham 1, Manchester United 2.

Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card for excessive celebration.

Goal! Fulham 1, Manchester United 2. Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Christian Eriksen with a through ball.

Substitution, Fulham. Josh Onomah replaces Tom Cairney.

Corner, Fulham. Conceded by Victor Lindelöf.

Attempt saved. Scott McTominay (Manchester United) header from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

João Palhinha (Fulham) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United).

Carlos Vinícius (Fulham) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Victor Lindelöf (Manchester United).

Foul by Tom Cairney (Fulham).

Casemiro (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Attempt missed. Scott McTominay (Manchester United) header from very close range is too high. Assisted by Luke Shaw with a cross.

Foul by Andreas Pereira (Fulham).

Christian Eriksen (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Attempt missed. João Palhinha (Fulham) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Andreas Pereira with a cross following a set piece situation.

Bobby De Cordova-Reid (Fulham) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Foul by Luke Shaw (Manchester United).

Hand ball by João Palhinha (Fulham).

Source Link