Bruno Fernandes misses penalty as Man United fail to win at Fulham

Fulham and Manchester United shared the points in a tense 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage on Sunday, with Bruno Fernandes missing a crucial penalty that could have given United their first win of the season. 

The result leaves both sides still searching for their opening victory of the Premier League campaign. United went ahead shortly after the restart when Rodrigo Muniz inadvertently turned the ball into his own net in the 58th minute.

The goal came against the run of play, but it gave the visitors hope of breaking their winless start under manager Rúben Amorim.

Fulham responded with energy and got their reward in the 73rd minute. Substitute Emile Smith Rowe pounced on Alex Iwobi’s trademark cross to finish clinically, drawing the home side level.

Smith Rowe later admitted it was instinctive play, saying he knew exactly what to expect from Iwobi’s delivery.

“It was really quick, I know when Alex [Iwobi] gets the ball, I know his trademark cross, and I have to be there to finish. We are very competitive in training; we all want to score goals and contribute to the team. We know when we come off the bench, we have to work hard and try to score.” Smith-Rowe said.

The equaliser shifted the momentum, and Fulham ended the stronger side. Smith Rowe and Harry Wilson both threatened late on as United’s defence came under heavy pressure, with goalkeeper Altay Bayindir looking unconvincing at times. 

Despite Fulham’s dominance in the closing stages, they were unable to find a winning goal. For United, the draw leaves more questions than answers. Fernandes’ missed spot-kick epitomised their struggles, while Amorim’s tactical decisions, including introducing two centre-backs late on, were criticised by supporters. 

With an important clash against Burnley up next, the pressure is already mounting on the Portuguese coach to find a formula that delivers results.