Fulham 0-1 Manchester United: Lisandro Martinez Secures Narrow Victory

A Lucky Strike from Martinez Gives United the Edge

Manchester United managed to scrape a hard-fought 1-0 win against Fulham at Craven Cottage, with Lisandro Martinez’s deflected effort being the deciding factor. The Red Devils recorded their second Premier League victory of 2025 in what was largely an uninspiring encounter.

A Dreary First Half

The opening 45 minutes offered little entertainment for fans of either side. Both teams struggled to create meaningful opportunities, reflected in a combined expected goals (xG) tally of just 0.42. Fulham looked slightly more promising, with Alex Iwobi forcing Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana into two saves, albeit tame ones. However, the match lacked urgency and attacking flair, leaving spectators underwhelmed.

United Finds Fortune in the Second Half

The second half unfolded in a similarly disjointed manner, with Bruno Fernandes’ inventive but off-target free-kick being one of the few moments of intrigue. It wasn’t until the 78th minute that United broke the deadlock, courtesy of a huge slice of luck. Lisandro Martinez unleashed a shot from 25 yards, which took a significant deflection off Sasa Lukic, looping past Bernd Leno into the top corner. The goal lifted the traveling supporters and injected life into the match.

Late Drama and Near Misses

Fulham pushed for an equalizer in the closing stages, coming close through Joachim Andersen. His near-post header was heroically cleared off the line by United substitute Toby Collyer. In stoppage time, Amad Diallo thought he had doubled the lead, but his effort was ruled out by VAR for offside. Despite the nervy finish, Manchester United held firm to secure a vital three points.

Fulham Player Ratings

• Bernd Leno: 5.6/10
• Timothy Castagne: 6.7/10
• Joachim Andersen: 7.2/10
• Calvin Bassey: 7.2/10
• Antonee Robinson: 7.0/10
• Sasa Lukic: 6.8/10
• Sander Berge: 6.9/10
• Harry Wilson: 6.2/10
• Emile Smith Rowe: 5.8/10
• Alex Iwobi: 6.2/10
• Raul Jimenez: 6.4/10

Manchester United Player Ratings

• Andre Onana: 7.9/10
• Matthijs de Ligt: 6.9/10
• Harry Maguire: 7.5/10
• Lisandro Martinez: 8.2/10 (Player of the Match)
• Diogo Dalot: 7.3/10
• Manuel Ugarte: 7.4/10
• Bruno Fernandes: 7.1/10
• Noussair Mazraoui: 6.7/10
• Amad Diallo: 6.9/10
• Rasmus Hojlund: 5.8/10
• Alejandro Garnacho: 6.7/10

Join the Conversation

What did you think of Lisandro Martinez’s performance? Was Manchester United’s win deserved, or should Fulham have earned a point? Share your thoughts in the comments section below and let’s discuss this dramatic finish together!