Joshua Kirksey came on as a substitute and scored a late debut goal to earn Manchester United three points against Fulham.
The 23-year-old, a summer signing from Bologna, found himself on the bench as manager Erik ten Hag fielded a line-up without a recognised striker.
But he brought on his countryman with three minutes to go, and Kirkjee made a crucial contribution when he volleyed home Alejandro Garnazzo’s cross from the right with three minutes remaining.
Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno saved two shots from Bruno Fernandes and another from Mason Mount, while Andre Onana stopped Kenny Tete and Hoglio Muniz at the other end. Fulham dominated for long periods at Old Trafford, while United struggled to find clear chances in the final third.
Friday night fun! ❤️🔥🙌#muaythai || #Moonpool pic.twitter.com/EXBEXGjMJA
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 16, 2024
There is no recognized striker
Ten Hag handed Noussair Mazraoui a debut but left Matthijs de Ligt and Zirkzee on the bench, while Marco Silva handed Emile Smith Rowe his first Cottagers start in an XI that included seven from the side that won 2-1 at Old Trafford in January.
Just three days after signing, Mazraoui had to make a vital sliding intervention in the opening minutes to stop Alex Iwobbe from hanging on to full-back after Adama Traore had run down the right into the box and beaten Lisandro Martinez.
Traore hit the ball over the crossbar but Kenny Tete curled a 25-yard curler that was saved by former Ajax team-mate Onana.
Mount, making just his second start for United since October last year, was booked after just 20 minutes for a lunge at Smith Rowe.
Fernandes fired a first-time effort into the side-netting from an almost impossible angle, before another former Ajax player, Calvin Bassey, was booked in the 25th minute for a sliding tackle on Mount.
Casemiro fired over Leno’s post just before the German keeper accidentally gave the ball away on the edge of his own penalty area, but he managed to block Fernandes’ low shot with his leg just before the half-hour mark – the moment when the Portuguese could have actually scored.
Five minutes later Fernandes had another chance when Casemiro slotted home a fine effort from near the penalty spot, but his first effort was once again blocked by Leno’s legs, and Casemiro’s header from a far post corner went wide, before he volleyed over the bar again from 20 yards.
Bernd makes another great save! 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/gmXDwPYw2m
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) August 16, 2024
Before the break, Harry Maguire was booked by referee Robert Jones when he dived for a penalty and dangled his leg close to Smith Rowe.
Brighter Fullham
After the reversal, Iwobi headed the ball over the bar from close range from a corner kick, and Fulham started to attack brighter, with Tete again heading in a set-piece that was saved by Diogo Dalot shortly afterwards.
Mount’s close-range effort was blocked by Leno after United’s lightning counterattack, before Kobi Mainu curled a low 20-yard shot over the bar in the 55th minute.
Zirkzy came on just before kick-off to the delight of the home fans, while Garnazzo came on for Mount and Amad, but Rodrigo Muniz’s acrobatic volley was deflected off Mainu and Onana had to tip it over the bar.
Fulham replaced Smith Rowe with Tom Cairney in the 64th minute, but Andreas Pereira failed to keep out Iwobi cleanly when the visitors found themselves 2-1 up on the counter-attack.
Dalot’s enticing cross was superbly blocked by Anthony Robinson, Pereira was shown a virtual yellow card and booked, while Cairney received another real yellow a few minutes later for a foul on Garnazzo.
In the 74th minute, a low cross from Pereira was blocked by Martinez in front of his own goal for the last minute to prevent Fulham from taking the lead and the visitors were awarded a series of corner kicks which they failed to capitalise on.
As the Cottagers looked to find a breakthrough, Muniz was pushed off by Maguire and made his final appearance before being replaced by Raul Jimenez with 15 minutes remaining.
Fernandes curled a ball straight at Leno from the edge of the box as he charged down the left at Zirkzee, with De Ligt and Jonny Evans coming on with 10 minutes remaining, before Maguire and Mazraoui were forced off in the final minutes.
After the break, Garnazzo was forced to stop Marcus Rashford’s far-post tap-in as a full-back because of Tete’s outstretched boot, but the defining moment came in the 87th minute. After Zirkzee spread the ball wide on the right, he raced into the area and fired a first-time volley past Leno into the bottom corner, sparking wild celebrations.
Garnazzo missed a goal in added time after Rashford passed to him after last man Bassey missed a kick, but to Ten Hag United’s relief, he held on to start the season with a win.
A last-minute defeat at Old Trafford.#Moonpool pic.twitter.com/ToeIz8aPjW
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) August 16, 2024
