Lisandro Martinez’s derivative efforts helped Manchester United secure an unconvincing 1-0 win over Fulham on Sunday night as they secured a second Premier League win of 2025.
A dismal first half at Craven Cottage hardly conjured excitement, with a combined expected goals total of 0.42 flattering both sides. Fulham offered the brighter moments, often working without Andre Onana, but Alex Iwobi tested the goalkeeper with two tame efforts – the highlights of an incredibly low-key affair.
Things didn’t get much better after the break as both teams continued to look disjointed and unconvincing in the final third. Bruno Fernandes’ clever but ultimately independent free kick drew several gasps from the crowd, but there was still little to motivate the two supporters in the first 75 minutes.
However, an enormous slice of luck finally broke the deadlock and made the traveling fans smile for the first time. Martinez let fly from 25 yards and the defender’s strike took a sizeable deflection off the unfortunate Sasa Lukic before looping into the top corner.
Fulham applied the pressure in the closing stages as they looked for an equalizer and Joachim Andersen came on to secure a draw – the centre-back’s near-post header impressively cleared the line through replacement Toby Collyer.
Amad Diallo thought he had added some sparkle to the scoreline when he found the back of the net in the fifth minute of halftime, but Var ended up calling the Ivori’s effort offside. In the end it mattered little as United held on for an important win.
*Reviews provided by fotmob*
player | Evaluation |
|---|---|
GK: Bernd Leno | 5.6/10 |
RB: Timothy Castagne | 6.7/10 |
CB: Joachim Andersen | 7.2/10 |
CB: Calvin Bassey | 7.2/10 |
LB: Anthony Robinson | 7.0/10 |
DM: Sasa Lukic | 6.8/10 |
DM: Sander Mountains | 6.9/10 |
RW: Harry Wilson | 6.2/10 |
AM: Emile Smith Rowe | 5.8/10 |
LW: Alex Iwobi | 6.2/10 |
ST: Raul Jiménez | 6.4/10 |
Sub: Adama Traore (53′ for Wilson) | 6.4/10 |
Sub: Rodrigo Muniz (64′ for Jimenez) | 5.7/10 |
Sub: Andreas Pereira (83′ for Smith Rowe) | N/A |
Sub: Tom Cairney (83′ for Lukic) | N/A |
Subs not used: Steven Andreas-Benda (GK), Issa Diop, Jorge Cuenca, Harrison Reed, Joshua King.
*Reviews provided by fotmob*
player | Evaluation |
|---|---|
GK: André Onana | 7.9/10 |
CB: Matthijs de ligt | 6.9/10 |
CB: Harry Maguire | 7.5/10 |
CB: Lisandro Martinez | 8.2/10 |
RM: Diogo Dalot | 7.3/10 |
CM: Manuel Ugarte | 7.4/10 |
CM: Bruno Fernandes | 7.1/10 |
LM: Nussair Mazraoui | 6.7/10 |
RF: Amad Diallo | 6.9/10 |
ST: Rasmus Hojlund | 5.8/10 |
Lf: Alejandro Garnacho | 6.7/10 |
Sub: Joshua Zirkzee (58′ for Hojlund) | 5.8/10 |
Sub: Leny Yoro (58 ‘for de ligt) | 6.7/10 |
Sub: Toby Collyer (76′ for Ugarte) | 6.6/10 |
Sub: Kobbie Mainoo (81′ for Garnacho) | N/A |
Sub: Tyrell Malacia (81′ for Mazraoui) | N/A |
Subs not used: Altay Bayindir (GK), Victor Lindelof, Casemiro, Christian Eriksen.