A late deflected goal by Lisandro Martinez earned Manchester United a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Fulham in the Premier League on Sunday, offering some relief for a struggling side under coach Ruben Amorim.
United, desperate for points and form, created little in a sluggish first half at Craven Cottage, with the home side dominating chances but failing to capitalize. Emile Smith Rowe missed Fulham’s best opportunity in the opening 45 minutes, leaving the game goalless at the break.
The visitors improved marginally in the second half but still looked short of attacking inspiration. The breakthrough finally came in the 78th minute when Martinez unleashed a long-range strike that took a massive deflection before nestling in the net. It was United’s first shot on target in the match and ultimately the deciding factor.
“I think I was lucky, but [it was] an important win,” Martinez told TNT Sports after the game. “It doesn’t matter who scores—the most important is the three points. It means a lot. Not only to the fans, but for us because we have suffered a lot. It is a hard win, but we are here. Even a game like today we have to win and be humble after winning.”
Fulham pushed hard for an equalizer in the dying minutes, with substitute Rodrigo Muniz missing two clear chances. The hosts came closest to leveling through Joachim Andersen’s header, which was dramatically cleared off the line by 19-year-old United substitute Toby Collyer.
Amad Diallo thought he had doubled United’s lead in stoppage time, only for VAR to disallow his effort for offside. Despite the nervy conclusion, United held on to claim their fourth league victory since Amorim took charge in November.
The result lifts United to 12th place in the standings, four points behind Fulham in 10th. For Amorim, the win is a small step forward after a turbulent period that has seen his team lose six of their last nine league matches.
Fulham, meanwhile, will rue their missed chances and remain winless in their last four Premier League outings.
United’s eighth consecutive league victory at Fulham provides a glimmer of hope as Amorim looks to turn their fortunes around. However, with sterner challenges ahead, the Portuguese manager knows his side still has significant work to do.
