Cunha’s Late Deflected Goal Earns Manchester United Draw at Fulham
Manchester United escaped Craven Cottage with a point after Matheus Cunha’s 89th-minute equaliser earned a 1-1 draw against Fulham, but Harry Maguire admitted the visitors had again been punished for not making their earlier opportunities count.
Cunha’s effort struck Fulham defender David Affengruber and looped beyond the wrong-footed Bernd Leno when the home side were only minutes from victory. The deflection denied Alvaro Arbeloa what would have been his first Premier League win in charge, although United had produced a largely subdued performance and are now without a league victory in three matches.
United had created enough before the interval to take control. Bruno Fernandes hit the post, while Leno made important stops from Cunha, Lisandro Martínez and Bryan Mbeumo. Maguire felt those openings had to be converted, particularly away from home in a division where margins are narrow.
“We need to make the most of our chances and the key moments,” Maguire said. “Away matches in the Premier League are difficult, as the results this season have shown. The opportunities we had before half-time were significant and we have to finish them.”
Fulham took the lead after a chaotic sequence involving Martínez and United goalkeeper Senne Lammens. Calvin Bassey’s shot was not dealt with cleanly by Lammens, who tried to clear with his legs, and the subsequent attempted pass back ended in the net with Martínez recorded as the scorer of the own goal.
The spell immediately after half-time was especially damaging for United’s rhythm. Gary Neville described the opening 15 minutes of the second period, which ended with Fulham going ahead, as the poorest he had seen from the club in more than 45 years of watching them.
United face another difficult start
The draw leaves United on five points from their first five Premier League fixtures, matching their lowest total at that stage of a season. They last made such a start in 2014-15, when Louis van Gaal’s side eventually recovered to finish fourth.
Carrick’s 2026 squad will enter the extended international break in the bottom half of the table, but Maguire pointed to the response after Fulham’s opener as evidence that the group can improve.
“The reaction was much more positive than it was against Manchester City last week,” Maguire said. “After the week we had, the players showed character. We forced Fulham back and kept the pressure on. We needed one loose ball to break our way.
“It was disappointing that the equaliser came so late because we had the momentum to push on and win it.”
Maguire added that United must shut out the external criticism while addressing the shortcomings in their performances. “We have to block out the noise, recognise what we have done this year and what must get better,” he said. “We are not far off.”
