Manchester United’s faltering start to the season continued as they were held to a 1–1 draw by Fulham at Craven Cottage, with Bruno Fernandes missing a second-half penalty that could have sealed all three points.
After a cagey first half that offered little in the way of goalmouth action, United edged ahead on 58 minutes in scrappy fashion when Fulham forward Rodrigo Muniz bundled the ball into his own net. It briefly looked as though Rúben Amorim’s side had found a breakthrough, but the joy was short-lived.
Fulham grew into the contest and were rewarded in the 73rd minute when Emile Smith Rowe, one of the summer’s most eye-catching signings, tucked home from Alex Iwobi’s clever cut-back. The equaliser sparked Craven Cottage into life and gave the hosts belief they could push on for more.
United had their chance to restore the lead when a penalty was awarded late on. Up stepped captain Bruno Fernandes, usually reliable from the spot, but his effort skewed wide to leave supporters stunned and Amorim burying his head in frustration on the touchline.
The draw leaves United still without a victory this season, languishing in the lower reaches of the table after another performance that raised more questions than answers. Amorim’s decision to leave £60m striker Benjamin Šeško on the bench once again will inevitably spark debate, particularly after the club spent over £150m on attacking reinforcements during the summer.
Supporters and pundits alike are already asking why Amorim continues to shuffle his forwards while the more glaring weaknesses in defence and midfield remain unaddressed. His late gamble of throwing on two centre-backs as auxiliary strikers was met with bemusement, highlighting the lack of balance in his current squad.
For Fulham, the result felt like a moral victory. Marco Silva’s side showed resilience after falling behind, and the energy of Smith Rowe and Iwobi offered encouragement that they can compete with the league’s top clubs. United, meanwhile, leave West London facing the same uncomfortable truth: despite lavish spending and a high-profile manager, they still look a side searching for identity.
