Matheus Cunha's fortunate late equaliser spared Manchester United's blushes as they salvaged a 1-1 draw against Fulham at Craven Cottage.

2026/2027 Premier League

1-1

Match Report

Matheus Cunha's fortunate late equaliser spared Manchester United's blushes as they salvaged a 1-1 draw against Fulham at Craven Cottage.

After Lisandro Martinez put through his own net, Fulham only needed to navigate one minute plus stoppage time to bring up their first Premier League win under Alvaro Arbeloa.

However, a huge deflection off David Affengruber saw Cunha's effort from range wrong-foot Bernd Leno, as Michael Carrick's side avoided going into the international break on the back of three straight defeats in all competitions.

Though both sides started tentatively, the first half eventually caught fire as the teams combined for 26 shots – a Premier League record (since Opta data began in 2003-04) for a first half that did not see a goal.

Martinez's swerving volley was clawed away from the top-right corner by Leno, before Bruno Fernandes somehow side-footed against the post when Cunha bustled to the byline and put the ball on a plate for him.

Fulham enjoyed a dominant spell midway through the opening period, with Senne Lammens making a trio of fine saves. He touched Sander Berge's effort around his right-hand post, got a crucial touch to Josh King's powerful drive, then rushed out to smother Alex Iwobi's attempted lob.

At the other end, Cunha's shot took a wicked deflection and almost dipped into the far corner, with Leno having to stay alert, while Marcus Rashford was wasteful on two occasions – stroking straight at the Fulham goalkeeper from his first chance, then lifting over from the second. 

But Martinez – who scored the only goal when United won at Craven Cottage in January 2025 – was at the centre of a calamitous moment in the 63rd minute. Calvin Bassey's drive was only parried by Lammens, with the ball then striking the Argentine and trickling in.

Leno made two saves to deny Bryan Mbeumo and Cunha – the first of which was a magnificent diving stop to his right – as Fulham inched closer to their first three points of the campaign.

But there was a cruel twist to come as Cunha took aim from 25 yards out, slightly to the left of goal. Affengruber threw himself in front of the Brazilian's shot, but that ricochet carried it into the far corner.

Fulham 1-1 Manchester United

A late Matheus Cunha strike - which took a big deflection - saw Man Utd take a point away from Craven Cottage. pic.twitter.com/NGDyzWrJ7k

— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) September 20, 2026

Fulham denied late on, but questions persist for Carrick

Carrick will have breathed a huge sigh of relief when Cunha's deflected strike nestled in Leno's net, but plenty of criticism is still likely to come United's way.

With five points from as many games, the Red Devils have made their joint-worst start to a Premier League season at this stage, having also picked up five in 2014-15.

Though the manner of Cunha's goal will leave a bitter taste for Fulham, allowing him to take aim is always dangerous, as no player has bettered the Brazilian's nine Premier League goals from outside the penalty area since his competition debut in 2023.

And, of Cunha's last 12 Premier League goals, 11 have either dragged his side level (three) or put them in front (eight).

Despite United firing off 29 shots to Fulham's 12, there was little to separate the teams in the expected goals (xG) stakes, with the Red Devils accumulating 1.59 to Fulham's 1.57.

Fulham, meanwhile, desperately need to take advantage of a three-match sequence against Ipswich Town, Hull City and Coventry City after the international break. This is their longest winless streak at the start of a league season since 2020-21, when they failed to win any of their first six and were ultimately relegated.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

0' Sir Alex Ferguson is watching the game in stands

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5' Great solo run by King as he controls the ball to find a gap in the defence

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6' Gonzalo Garcia has a chance after receiving a pass, but it sails just wide of the left post

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10' Lisandro Martinez meets a rebound outside the box, but his effort is saved by the keeper

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17' Iwobi sends a brilliant cross for Gonzalo Garcia, but the weak effort misses the target

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19' King creates some space for himself to pick up a pass and fires a shot which goes high over the bar

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20' Rashford times his run well and links with a cross, but can't keep the ball down and it flies high

24' Dalot takes a first-time shot from mid-range, but the effort lacks accuracy and goes wide

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25' Bruno storms into the box to get on the end of a pass, but smashes his shot straight onto the post

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27' King makes a good run to meet the cross by Iwobi, but his effort lacks accuracy

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29' Oscar Bobb makes a yard for himself and takes a shot that goes just wide of the left post

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30' Cunha latches onto a short pass and shoots, but the effort comes back off the post

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32' King gets on the end of a cross and sweeps the ball towards the net, but Lammens denies the effort

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39' Rashford receives a diagonal pass, bursts into the box and shoots low, but it is saved

43' Excellent touch by Iwobi as he latches on to a pass deep and unleashes a low drive, but it is denied

44' Rashford fires a shot high over the bar from inside the box after latching onto a short pass

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45' Joshua King is literally asking for a yellow card with his behaviour

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50' Yellow Card! Castagne booked as he brings down Rashford

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53' Rashford goes on a solo run, but he fails to create a chance as an opposition player blocks him

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63' OWN GOAL! The rebound arrives at Lisandro who unfortunately has it into the net! Fulham 1-0 Man Utd

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67' Mbeumo from mid-range lets fly towards the goal, but Leno makes a comfortable save

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74' Cunha lurks on the edge of the box and strikes the ball, but Leno makes an incredible save

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75' Kevin produces a ferocious strike from the edge of the box, but his effort is blocked by Lammens

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77' Zirkzee replaces Rashford

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79' Kobbie Mainoo goes off and Mason Mount comes on

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86' Man Utd players appeal for a handball by Bassey inside the box, but the ref takes no action

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89' GOAL! Dorgu passes the ball to Cunha and he fires in a deflected shot! Fulham 1-1 Man Utd

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Line-ups

Fulham XI: Leno, Iwobi, Castagne, Berge, Antonee Robinson, Calvin Bassey, David Affengruber, Bobb, Shea Charles, Gonzalo García, Josh King

Subs: Benjamin Lecomte, Andersen, Sessegnon, Smith Rowe, Rodrigo Muniz, Kevin, Manuel Ángel, Hugo Larsson, César Palacios

Man Utd XI: Maguire, Luke Shaw, Bruno Fernandes, Tielemans, Dalot, Rashford, Lisandro Martinez, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Senne Lammens, Mainoo

Subs: Darlow, Mount, Mazraoui, Zirkzee, Yoro, Andrey Santos, Carlos Baleba, Patrick Dorgu, Shea Lacey