Manchester United avoided defeat on Sunday with a late recovery to seal a one all draw against Fulham in a tense match at Craven Cottage.
The game saw Alex Iwobi reach another milestone while his close friend Calvin Bassey almost turned hero to villain after conceding a penalty in the first half.
Own Goal Opens Scoring
The contest began with United dominating possession but failing to break down Fulham’s tight defence.
The home side, under Marco Silva, pressed hard and looked sharp on the counter.
Trouble came in the thirty eighth minute when Video Assistant Referee caught Bassey pulling Mason Mount during a corner. Referee Anthony Taylor awarded a penalty.
But United captain Bruno Fernandes missed the chance, blasting high above the bar to leave the score level at the break.
United finally found a way through in the fifty eighth minute.
A corner appeared to have been wasted when Leny Yoro’s header drifted wide. But the ball struck Rodrigo Muniz and bounced into his own net.
It was officially recorded as an own goal and United had the lead. The visiting fans celebrated, but Fulham refused to fold.
Iwobi Creates History
The equaliser came in the seventy third minute and it was set up by none other than Alex Iwobi. Playing from a central midfield role, he delivered a perfect cross into the box.
Substitute Emile Smith Rowe met it with a composed strike, beating the goalkeeper to level the score at one one.
For Iwobi, this assist carried huge significance. It marked his fortieth in the Premier League, stretching his record as Nigeria’s top creator in the competition.
He now stands clear of country legends like Nwankwo Kanu with twenty nine, Yakubu Aiyegbeni with twenty six, Kelechi Iheanacho with twenty five and Shola Ameobi with twenty.
The draw leaves Manchester United with only one point from two matches, having lost to Arsenal in their opener. They sit in sixteenth place and will be under heavy pressure in the coming weeks.
Fulham have collected two points from their first two games and are positioned in thirteenth spot. With Iwobi pulling strings and Bassey eager to learn from his mistake, the Cottagers look ready for a competitive season.
