Manchester United’s stuttering start to the Premier League season continued on Sunday as Bruno Fernandes missed a first-half penalty before Fulham fought back to secure a 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage.
United had taken a controversial lead just before the hour mark when Rodrigo Muniz inadvertently put the ball into his own net after Leny Yoro appeared to shove Fulham defender Calvin Bassey in the back. Despite loud protests from the home side, the goal was allowed to stand.
Earlier, Fernandes squandered the chance to put United ahead from the penalty spot. Referee Chris Kavanagh awarded the spot kick following a VAR check on Bassey’s tussle with Mason Mount, but just as Fernandes prepared to take it, Kavanagh collided with him. The United captain appeared unsettled and blazed his effort over the bar, leaving Fulham relieved.
“I was upset because the referee didn’t apologise. That disrupted me in that moment, but I have no excuse – it was a poor strike,” Fernandes told Sky Sports after the match.
Fulham eventually found their equaliser with less than 20 minutes left. Substitute Emile Smith Rowe, on loan from Arsenal, tapped in from close range after good work from Alex Iwobi, whose performance earned him the Player of the Match award.
Fulham defender Calvin Bassey insisted United’s opener should not have stood. “It’s a foul, simple as that. He pushed me with both hands. When the ref watches it back, he will be disappointed,” Bassey said, before joking that Fernandes’ penalty miss was “justice.”
United manager Ruben Amorim admitted his side lacked control after taking the lead. “We scored and then stopped playing. We need to be smarter in those moments,” he said.
For Fulham boss Marco Silva, the draw was tinged with frustration over the officiating. “I don’t have the words to explain things that are impossible to explain. Everyone saw what happened,” Silva said, again pointing to VAR decisions.
The result leaves United winless in their first two league games, having lost to Arsenal last weekend, while Fulham have now drawn both of their opening fixtures.
