Lisandro Martínez proved to be the hero as his deflected second-half strike secured a crucial 1-0 victory for Manchester United against Fulham at Craven Cottage. The narrow win marked just their second Premier League away triumph since September and extended their impressive unbeaten league run at this venue, a record that has stood since December 2009.
The match itself, however, was far from a spectacle. Both teams struggled to find any real quality in their play, with Manchester United offering little going forward for much of the game. Fulham, a side that has impressed many this season, posed the greater attacking threat in the first half, yet they were unable to capitalize on their dominance.
United’s defensive resilience was pivotal. Despite their lackluster offensive display, the visitors demonstrated commendable grit and determination at the back, keeping Fulham at bay. André Onana, United’s goalkeeper, was rarely troubled, as Fulham’s efforts amounted to a meager 0.2 expected goals. While Fulham controlled the early stages, their inability to convert possession into clear-cut chances ultimately cost them.
The first half was an uneventful affair for United, who seemed content to absorb pressure and play conservatively. In fact, it wasn’t until the 42nd minute that they managed their first shot of the match, with Matthijs de Ligt’s tame effort comfortably saved by Bernd Leno. This marked United’s lowest tally of first-half attempts in a league game since failing to register any against Liverpool in April last year.
After the break, there was a noticeable improvement in United’s play. They began to enjoy more possession, increasing their share of the ball from 50% in the first half to 65.4% by the hour mark. Bruno Fernandes came close to breaking the deadlock with a cleverly taken free-kick that rippled the side-netting, but genuine quality in the final third remained elusive for both teams. Neither side managed to touch the ball in the opposition’s penalty area until well into the second half, highlighting the lack of attacking sharpness.
In a game starved of creativity, it was perhaps fitting that the decisive goal came in fortuitous fashion. The ball fell to Lisandro Martínez, who unleashed a speculative strike from 25 yards. A deflection off Sasa Lukic’s shin sent the ball looping over Leno and into the back of the net, sparking jubilant celebrations among the United players and fans. This marked Martínez’s third Premier League goal involvement under manager Ruben Amorim, a tally bettered only by Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo.
Fulham came agonizingly close to equalizing late on, with Toby Collyer producing a heroic goal-line clearance to deny Joachim Andersen’s header. That vital intervention preserved United’s slender lead and ensured they left Craven Cottage with all three points. It was a moment that underlined the team’s defensive resolve and proved to be worth its weight in gold.
Amad Diallo thought he had sealed the win in style with a late goal, but it was ruled out for offside. In the end, it mattered little, as United held on for a much-needed victory. While the performance left much to be desired, the result provided a significant morale boost and demonstrated United’s ability to grind out results un
der pressure.