Match Report - Fulham 2-2 Manchester United

Competition: Barclays Premier League
Kick-Off & Date: 4pm, August 22nd August
Venue: Craven Cottage, London (Away)
Attendance: 25,643


It's one of those games that you always win, you would have thought, but it was far from that on Sunday as Fulham scored a late equailiser after what looked a certain United win. Three seasons ago, The Reds were unbeaten at the Craven Cottage in over 45 years. That all changed in 2009, when The Whites won 2-0 against Sir Alex's men, and then 3-0 last season.

Paul Scholes ironically put the away side ahead - scoring his 150th goal for Manchester United. The Red Devils needed another goal to secure the lead, but went into the interval without that two-goal cushion. Former United trainee Simon Davies then leveled the scores before a tense finish. 

With 5 minutes to go, an own-goal from Brede Hangeland looked to have handed United the win. Moments later, Damien Duff as adjudged to have illegally handled the ball inside the box by referee Peter Walton. Luis Nani stepped-up but his shot was saved by stand-in keeper David Stockdale. Hangeland then made-up for his own-goal, as he climbed above The Red's defence to head-in a late equailiser...

Wayne Rooney was left-out of the squad, suffering from a stomach virus. The 24-year-old striker was sorely missed, with Dimitar Berbatov and Chicharito failing to convert good early chances. From the outset, The Cottagers were clearly determined to get a result, while Sir Alex looked for revenge.

Despite good attacks from the home side, it was veteran Paul Scholes who opened the scoring after 10 minutes. Antonio Valencia and Dimitar Berbatov played the ball to Scholsey from a corner. The 35-year-old struck from over 27 yards out, into the bottom right hand corner of the goal ! 

It was a frustrating first half for the Londoners, with their fierce counter-attacks a rare occurrence. But after the break Mark Hughes' side came out of the traps quicker than United did.

Bobby Zamora and Dickson Etuhu both had efforts that ended in good saves, the second more so as Edwin Van Der Sar stopped and then tipped over Etuhu's efforts. 

Duff then skinned Patrice Evra down the right hand flank, he raced past the Frenchman and passed to Zamora, who turned the ball into the box. It was a slow-motion goal as the balled rolled to Davies, whose shot was half-saved by Van Der Sar, but the ball hit the post and crossed the line. It was a harsh leveler, but Fulham well and truly deserved it.

Nani, Ryan Giggs and Michael Owen all entered the fray, with Ji-Sung Park, Valencia and Chicharito leaving the field. Soon enough after, Nani fizzed a free-kick millimeters over the bar.

Moussa Dembele was hauled-down by Nemanja Vidic inside the box, just after Scholes had been felled in the other box. Neither merited a spot kick, according to ref. Walton - who booked two players a piece.

With United pushing for a winner, Fulham looked dangerous on the counter. However, with 5 minutes left Nani's corner was knocked into the net by Hangeland, who couldn't get out of the way in time. Just a few minutes later, Nani missed a penalty - with Stockdale guessing right, diving to his right...

Game over it seemed, even though Nani had missed. But Sparky's men kept the belief and the former United forward got his revenge for Michael Owen's 96th minute winner - Hangeland forcing a header past Van Der Sar, who couldn't get a telling touch.

If only we had made use of our early chances, if Evra stopped Duff down the wing, if Van Der Sar got a hand to the goals, if Nani scored his penalty, if Jonny Evans stayed on the post... we would have won. But as usual, it's the little things that decide a game.

It's only the second game of the season, but it was a poor one. Two points and two goals given away at The Cottage doesn't bode well for our goal difference, but at least we remain in the top four !

United Team: Edwin Van Der Sar, Patrice Evra, Nemanja Vidic, John O'Shea, Jonny Evans, Ji-Sung Park (Luis Nani '67), Paul Scholes, Darren Fletcher, Antonio Valencia (Ryan Giggs '74), Dimitar Berbatov, Chicharito, (Michael Owen '74)

Goals: Scholes '11, Brede Hangeland (OG) '85
Bookings: Valencia '39, Evans '68