Manchester United secured a vital 1-0 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage, maintaining their unbeaten run in the Premier League at this venue.
The match was decided by a moment of brilliance from Lisandro Martinez, whose deflected shot in the 78th minute proved to be the difference.
Despite Fulham starting the game seven points ahead of United in the league table, the first half showed little daylight between the teams.
Alex Iwobi tested United’s goalkeeper André Onana twice within the first 20 minutes, but both efforts were comfortably saved.
The first half lacked clear-cut chances, with the best opportunity falling to Raúl Jiménez, who skied an effort over the bar from a tight angle after a good pass from Antonee Robinson.
The second half continued in much the same vein, with neither team managing to penetrate the opposition’s area until the decisive moment.
United, who had conceded first in eight of their previous nine league games, seemed headed for a draw until Martinez capitalized on a poor clearance. His shot, although not struck with precision, found the back of the net via a deflection off Bernd Leno.
Reflecting on the match, United’s manager Ruben Amorim admitted, “You need sometimes a little bit of luck, and we had some games that we lost, and in the end, nobody cares because the result counts.”
He added, “Today I can see that we have a lot to improve. We didn’t play so well with the ball but we gave time to the team and when you do have time with talented players, they can show in one play and they can change the game and today it was that situation.”
Amorim also praised Martinez’s role, noting, “When the center defenders play well with the ball, we play well. It’s something that Licha does really well, he can take the ball.”
The match nearly had a dramatic conclusion when Toby Collyer heroically cleared a header off the line and despite two late chances for Rodrigo Muniz, United held firm.
An offside call on Amad Diallo’s stoppage-time goal was irrelevant as United clinched the three points.
This win marks United’s third away victory in the Premier League this season, lifting them to 12th in the standings, four points behind Fulham, who remain in 10th place.
The victory is a testament to United’s resilience and Martinez’s crucial contribution, showcasing his ability to change the course of a game with a single, pivotal action.
