Fulham denied win over Manchester United at the death.
Fulham were denied a famous win over Manchester United after Matheus Cunha’s late deflected strike saw the shares spoiled in a 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage.
Lisandro Martinez’s bizarre own goal looked like it was going to hand Alvaro Arbeloa his first win as Fulham manager but in the 89th minute, Cunha’s effort came off the leg of David Affengruber and left Bernd Leno with absolutely no chance in the Fulham net.
The result means that Fulham remain winless from their opening five matches of the Premier League season, with only two draws to show for their efforts, after also drawing against Liverpool.
There was again a major sense of improvement at both ends of the pitch though, with Josh King once more the protagonist in attack for the Cottagers after also thriving against Chelsea and Crystal Palace in particular with goals and when coming on against West Ham.
His confidence is showing with each day and he came close on a number of occasions to giving Fulham the lead.
Significant credit must go to Bernd Leno too, whose magnificent saves in both halves, but particularly in the first kept Fulham in the game.
The first half was full of opportunities, Lisandro Martinez came very close to giving United the lead with an audacious half volley and opportunities only grew from there.
King had not one but two big chances, one he could not quite direct with enough force to trouble Senne Lammens in the United goal and one that the Belgian keeper brilliantly saved.
Bruno Fernandes struck the post with another chance for United and Marcus Rashford twice had good opportunities he should have done better with.
In the second half though, there was a distinct lack of energy for both sides and in the first 15 minutes, neither managed to register a single shot.
Calvin Bassey had the first one which went out for a corner and it was the Nigerian’s second shot in a few minutes that caused the goal.
His strike after stealing the ball off Cunha went into Lammens, who palmed it into the path of the six yard box.
Martinez could do nothing but kick it straight back at his goalkeeper and the Belgian was unable to stop a very odd own goal from going in.
Fulham were then on the back foot for the rest of the second half and managed to dig in for half an hour.
Leno made another excellent save to deny Bryan Mbeumo and it just seemed like it was going to be Fulham’s day.
That was of course, until Cunha’s effort took a heavy deflection off Affengruber’s leg and beat a helpless Leno.
It was a point gained for Fulham, but it does also feel like two dropped due to the circumstances.
