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Manchester United started their new season with a hard-fought victory against Fulham, thanks to debutant Joshua Zirkzee. The Dutch striker came off the bench and scored the winning goal, giving United fans a reason to cheer despite a lackluster performance.
The game was anything but a smooth ride for United. The team struggled to create clear chances, with a noticeable absence of a reliable center-forward in the starting lineup. Joshua Zirkzee, however, proved to be the hero when he connected with an Alejandro Garnacho cross, turning the ball into the net and breaking Fulham’s resistance.
Erik ten Hag’s new signings had mixed starts. Noussair Mazraoui was the only one to start the match, playing at right-back. Diogo Dalot was shifted to the left to cover for the injured Luke Shaw. Meanwhile, Matthijs de Ligt and Joshua Zirkzee were left on the bench initially, though they were paraded before the match alongside injured Leny Yoro to boost the fans’ spirits.
Old Trafford itself looked refreshed, with a newly refurbished tunnel signaling a new era for the club. However, more than just cosmetic changes, Ten Hag needed to show a clear identity on the pitch—a “United Way” that was missing last season when the team often looked disjointed.
In the directors’ box, Avram Glazer and interim England manager Lee Carsley were in attendance, eager to see if this could be the start of a new chapter for United, following their worst-ever Premier League finish of eighth last season. United’s last competitive match was an FA Cup win, but a three-month break had threatened to disrupt any momentum.
Amad Diallo was the first to excite the crowd, weaving into the box before falling under a challenge from Antonee Robinson. His appeals for a penalty were waved away, and Fulham’s Kenny Tete took advantage, racing 40 yards up the pitch and forcing a fine save from André Onana.
Fulham’s new signing, Emile Smith Rowe, was given a free role, roaming across the pitch and causing problems for United’s defense. With Adama Traoré’s pace on the right, there were nervous moments for the home side, especially on the counterattack.
Old Trafford was tense, understandable after nine home losses last season. Fulham’s poor passing provided some relief, with Bernd Leno gifting the ball to Casemiro, who set up Bruno Fernandes, only for Leno to make a smart save. The goalkeeper repeated his heroics moments later, denying Fernandes again.
United dominated possession but struggled to find fluidity. Harry Maguire added a moment of comedy, diving in the box after a challenge from Smith Rowe, only to be booked for simulation.
Marcus Rashford was quiet in the first half but finally burst into life, setting up Mason Mount for a shot that Leno saved. This injected energy into the team and the crowd, as United began to click.
With momentum building, Ten Hag introduced Garnacho and Joshua Zirkzee to bolster the attack. The move nearly backfired when Rodrigo Muniz attempted an overhead kick that Onana had to tip over.
As the match wore on, United’s energy levels dipped, and Fulham looked dangerous on the break. Adama Traoré led a counterattack, but Lisandro Martínez was on hand to clear the danger.
Ten Hag recognized the team’s fatigue and made changes, bringing on De Ligt and Jonny Evans to secure the defense. But it was Joshua Zirkzee’s late goal that made the difference, ensuring United started the season with three points and lifting the spirits at Old Trafford.
