Smith Rowe Strikes Late as Fulham Hold Manchester United
Manchester United’s search for a first Premier League win of the new season was extended, as Fulham battled back to earn a deserved 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage. What had looked like a promising evening for Ruben Amorim’s side unraveled once again, with questions now being raised over whether this “new era” is truly underway.
United started the match with intent. There were bright moments in attack, and early pressure suggested that the breakthrough would come sooner rather than later. Bruno Fernandes even had the chance to put them ahead from the penalty spot, but in a rare lapse, he sent his effort high over the bar. That miss immediately carried a symbolic weight—it seemed to echo the fragile confidence of a team still trying to find itself under Amorim.
Eventually, fortune smiled on United in the second half. From a corner, Leny Yoro’s header took a wicked deflection off Rodrigo Muniz and ended up in the Fulham net. It was officially recorded as an own goal, but for United, it was simply relief—their first goal of the season, even if not scored by one of their own attackers.
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But true to the pattern of recent months, United could not turn that lead into victory. The team retreated, the passing slowed, and Fulham sensed their chance. Marco Silva’s substitutions proved decisive. Alex Iwobi delivered a teasing ball into the box, Raúl Jiménez swung and missed, but waiting just behind him was Emile Smith Rowe. The former Arsenal midfielder, quick to react, slotted past Altay Bayindir in the 73rd minute. Fulham had their equaliser, and Craven Cottage erupted.
From there, it was anyone’s game. Fulham pushed forward with energy, believing a winner could be found. Smith Rowe, full of confidence, looked sharp and inventive, while United struggled to regain composure. Benjamin Sesko, signed to be a focal point in attack, barely touched the ball after coming on. Even the late introduction of Harry Maguire, thrown forward in a desperate attempt to snatch a set-piece goal, could not rescue the visitors.
What should worry United fans is not just the result, but the manner of it. For long stretches, Fulham appeared the more coherent, the more settled side. Bernd Leno was called into action a few times, but the hosts looked far more threatening, especially once momentum swung their way.
For Amorim, the challenge is already clear. The squad remains in transition, and while the club invested heavily this summer, the pieces are yet to fit. No United outfield player has scored a goal in two matches, and the team’s confidence looks brittle.
Fulham, meanwhile, will take heart. They’ve shown resilience, balance, and enough attacking spark to trouble one of the league’s giants. And with Smith Rowe making an instant impact, their fans will feel there’s much more to come.
United’s restart was supposed to begin here. Instead, it feels as though the same old frustrations linger on.
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